Molly

girlEnglishChristian

Molly is a Christian girl name of English, from Hebrew origin, meaning “Pet form of Mary”.

MeaningPet form of Mary
GenderGirl
OriginEnglish, from Hebrew
PronunciationMOL-ee
TraditionChristian, Modern & Classic
Used inUnited Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Australia

Meaning and origin of Molly

Molly began as a medieval English pet form of Mary, through the intermediate forms Mally and Moll. Mary comes from the Hebrew Miriam, whose meaning is debated. Molly has been used as an independent name for centuries and is especially loved in Ireland, where the song 'Molly Malone' is a Dublin anthem. It became very popular in Britain and Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s.

Is Molly a Christian name?

As a form of Mary, Molly is linked to the mother of Jesus, though most parents choose it as a friendly, everyday name.

How popular is Molly?

Well used in Britain, Ireland and the United States.

Gifts with the name Molly

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Spellings and variants of Molly

MollieMaryPollyMoll

Names similar to Molly

PollyMillieLucyDaisy

More Christian girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Molly mean?

Molly means 'Pet form of Mary'. It is of English, from Hebrew origin.

Is Molly a Christian name?

As a form of Mary, Molly is linked to the mother of Jesus, though most parents choose it as a friendly, everyday name.

How do you pronounce Molly?

Molly is pronounced MOL-ee.

Is Molly a boy or girl name?

Molly is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.