Unisex · English (from Old French) · Christian
Jolly
JollySay it JOL-ee
- Meaning today
- Cheerful, happy
- Original meaning
- "festive, merry (Old French jolif)" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. jolly (adj.)
- Say it
- JOL-ee
- Other spellings
- Jollie
Jolly
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Jolly meaning
Jolly is a Christian unisex name of English origin (from Old French), used for both girls and boys.
Festive, merry (Old French jolif)
Also used to mean: cheerful, happy
Jolly is the English word used as a name. The Online Etymology Dictionary dates it to about 1300, from Old French jolif, "festive, merry". Its earlier origin is uncertain: it may come from Latin gaudere, "to rejoice", the root of joy, or from a Germanic word related to Old Norse jol, the midwinter feast that gave English Yule. In Kerala Jolly is a given name in Christian families, used for boys and girls alike and often paired with a family or baptismal name.
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. jolly (adj.) · entry jolly · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, jolly · Wikipedia, Jolly Abraham
Famous namesakes
- Jolly Abraham, Malayalam playback singer
Spellings
Jolly · Jollie