Holly

Q: What is the origin of Holly?

Holly is of English origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Holly?

According to the latest SSA data, Holly is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Holly a boy name?

Holly is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Holly Plant"

From the plant name, it functions as a nature-derived English given name with seasonal associations.

Themes:plantwinternature

Nature Natural Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

B.A. Journalism, Northwestern University10+ Years Parenting WritingMom of Three • Parenting Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Holly

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Holly did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Holly Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Holly.

8 ideas

holy

Nickname

holl

Nickname

olly

Nickname

hollyie

Nickname

hollyy

Nickname

hollyo

Nickname

hie

Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Holly

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Holly, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

20 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Holly mean?

Holly means "Holly Plant". From the plant name, it functions as a nature-derived English given name with seasonal associations.

What is the origin of Holly?

Holly is of English origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Holly?

According to the latest SSA data, Holly is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Holly a boy name?

Holly is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Holly?

Popular nicknames for Holly include holy, holl, olly, hollyie, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Holly?

There are many names similar to Holly in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginEnglish

Syllables2

Length5 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withH

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alton Al Ashley Addison Anson

Sisters

Arlene Addie Ashlee Ashleigh Audra

Explore More Boy Names Like Holly

Holly has English roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our English baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Holly appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Nature and Names That Mean Ocean for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean Water for Boys and Girls and Earth-Inspired Nature Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Holly pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Holly beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.