Girl · English (pet form of Mary) · Christian · International
Molly
MollySay it MOL-ee
- Meaning today
- Bitter, beloved
- Original meaning
- "diminutive of Moll, a pet form of Mary (Hebrew Miryam, 'rebelliously' by Strong's)" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Molly; Moll
- Say it
- MOL-ee
- Other spellings
- Mollie, Molley
Molly
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Molly meaning
Molly is a Christian and international girl's name of English origin (pet form of Mary).
Meaning today
Bitter, beloved
Original English (pet form of Mary) meaning
"diminutive of Moll, a pet form of Mary (Hebrew Miryam, 'rebelliously' by Strong's)"
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Molly; Moll · entry Molly · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Molly began as a pet form of Mary. The Online Etymology Dictionary describes it as a diminutive of Moll, itself a familiar form of Mary, in the same way that Polly grew from Molly. Its meaning therefore follows Mary's, which is uncertain: Strong's Concordance derives the Hebrew Miryam from a word for rebellion, name lists often give "bitter", and some scholars suggest an Egyptian word meaning "beloved". In Kerala Molly is used in Christian families, given in honour of the Virgin Mary.
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Molly · Strong's H4813, Miryam (Bible Hub)
Popularity abroad
- #196 United States, girls 2025 (up 12 from 208 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #120 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Molly · Mollie · Molley