Fun Facts About the Name Holly
- A favorite of earlier generations: Holly appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 24 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1992 through 1992.
- More than 206 thousand babies named Holly: U.S. records list 206,840 babies given the name Holly from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,541 boys received the name Holly - about 1 boy for every 133 girls.
What Does the Name Holly Mean?
Holly is an English name taken from the holly tree, the evergreen shrub with glossy, spiny leaves and red berries. The word descends from Old English holegn, also written holen, which named the plant. Middle English forms such as holin and holi led to the modern English holly. The Old English plant name is related to Old Saxon and Old High German hulis and to Dutch hulst, all names for the same tree.
The name has no meaning beyond the plant it names; it is a botanical word rather than a compound of separate elements with individual senses. The tree's winter and Christmas associations belong to the plant's cultural role, not to the etymology of the word.
Holly Name History & Origins
Holly appears first as an English surname, where it generally identified a person who lived near a holly tree or came from a place named for one. Its use as a given name is a later development, drawing either on the plant or on the surname. As a first name it is mainly a twentieth-century growth in the English-speaking world, where the holly's role in Christmas decoration and winter custom supported its use for girls, and it has also been given occasionally to boys as a transferred surname.
Truman Capote used the name for the central character, Holly Golightly, in his 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany's; this is a well-known literary example rather than the source of the name. The traditional English carol "The Holly and the Ivy" reflects the plant's long-standing place in winter celebrations.
How Popular is the Name Holly?
Holly recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1983. People named Amelia who were born during its modern resurgence from 1992 through 1992 turn 34-34 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #416 | 751 | 0.0467% |
| 2024 | #419 | 739 | 0.0458% |
| 2023 | #451 | 682 | 0.0426% |
| 2022 | #458 | 692 | 0.0422% |
| 2021 | #467 | 672 | 0.0410% |
| 2020 | #479 | 638 | 0.0395% |
| 2019 | #482 | 651 | 0.0388% |
| 2018 | #513 | 608 | 0.0358% |
| 2017 | #493 | 634 | 0.0367% |
| 2016 | #527 | 589 | 0.0332% |
| 2015 | #491 | 653 | 0.0366% |
| 2014 | #448 | 714 | 0.0400% |
| 2013 | #451 | 683 | 0.0389% |
| 2012 | #425 | 740 | 0.0420% |
| 2011 | #420 | 738 | 0.0420% |
| 2010 | #409 | 774 | 0.0435% |
| 2009 | #381 | 858 | 0.0467% |
| 2008 | #364 | 907 | 0.0480% |
| 2007 | #339 | 976 | 0.0508% |
| 2006 | #346 | 955 | 0.0502% |
| 2005 | #310 | 1,040 | 0.0563% |
| 2004 | #293 | 1,119 | 0.0609% |
| 2003 | #261 | 1,227 | 0.0672% |
| 2002 | #231 | 1,363 | 0.0759% |
| 2001 | #219 | 1,462 | 0.0812% |
| 2000 | #189 | 1,690 | 0.0931% |
| 1999 | #180 | 1,749 | 0.0986% |
| 1998 | #163 | 1,921 | 0.1087% |
| 1997 | #152 | 2,056 | 0.1181% |
| 1996 | #130 | 2,438 | 0.1391% |
| 1995 | #126 | 2,544 | 0.1447% |
| 1994 | #112 | 2,924 | 0.1637% |
| 1993 | #108 | 3,032 | 0.1676% |
| 1992 | #99 | 3,347 | 0.1815% |
| 1991 | #105 | 3,289 | 0.1754% |
| 1990 | #89 | 3,772 | 0.1987% |
| 1989 | #79 | 3,893 | 0.2112% |
| 1988 | #72 | 4,217 | 0.2368% |
| 1987 | #71 | 4,259 | 0.2450% |
| 1986 | #62 | 4,839 | 0.2821% |
| 1985 | #56 | 5,602 | 0.3255% |
| 1984 | #53 | 5,930 | 0.3522% |
| 1983 | #48 | 6,388 | 0.3824% |
| 1982 | #61 | 4,682 | 0.2765% |
| 1981 | #63 | 4,564 | 0.2736% |
| 1980 | #52 | 5,282 | 0.3181% |
| 1979 | #48 | 5,488 | 0.3419% |
| 1978 | #55 | 4,972 | 0.3246% |
| 1977 | #52 | 5,464 | 0.3564% |
| 1976 | #56 | 5,173 | 0.3531% |
| 1975 | #55 | 5,047 | 0.3462% |
| 1974 | #56 | 5,144 | 0.3505% |
| 1973 | #54 | 5,114 | 0.3507% |
| 1972 | #71 | 4,376 | 0.2877% |
| 1971 | #76 | 4,746 | 0.2852% |
| 1970 | #74 | 4,940 | 0.2826% |
| 1969 | #87 | 4,123 | 0.2444% |
| 1968 | #103 | 3,421 | 0.2086% |
| 1967 | #109 | 3,152 | 0.1909% |
| 1966 | #100 | 3,399 | 0.2009% |
| 1965 | #113 | 3,358 | 0.1902% |
| 1964 | #121 | 3,479 | 0.1836% |
| 1963 | #132 | 3,135 | 0.1627% |
| 1962 | #148 | 2,923 | 0.1486% |
| 1961 | #161 | 2,576 | 0.1276% |
| 1960 | #161 | 2,578 | 0.1275% |
| 1959 | #168 | 2,290 | 0.1132% |
| 1958 | #168 | 2,242 | 0.1115% |
| 1957 | #157 | 2,394 | 0.1171% |
| 1956 | #162 | 2,325 | 0.1158% |
| 1955 | #144 | 2,504 | 0.1281% |
| 1954 | #166 | 2,092 | 0.1077% |
| 1953 | #199 | 1,566 | 0.0832% |
| 1952 | #214 | 1,318 | 0.0711% |
| 1951 | #237 | 1,069 | 0.0594% |
| 1950 | #266 | 834 | 0.0487% |
| 1949 | #307 | 631 | 0.0369% |
| 1948 | #294 | 673 | 0.0396% |
| 1947 | #295 | 708 | 0.0399% |
| 1946 | #331 | 507 | 0.0323% |
| 1945 | #353 | 382 | 0.0292% |
| 1944 | #415 | 305 | 0.0230% |
| 1943 | #410 | 318 | 0.0228% |
| 1942 | #489 | 230 | 0.0170% |
| 1941 | #611 | 134 | 0.0111% |
| 1940 | #830 | 74 | 0.0065% |
| 1939 | #832 | 70 | 0.0064% |
| 1938 | #867 | 66 | 0.0060% |
| 1937 | #1,025 | 48 | 0.0045% |
| 1936 | #981 | 49 | 0.0047% |
| 1935 | #1,044 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1934 | #1,386 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1933 | #1,492 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1932 | #1,302 | 32 | 0.0030% |
| 1931 | #1,408 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1930 | #1,586 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1929 | #1,734 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1928 | #1,704 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1927 | #1,696 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1926 | #1,957 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #2,145 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #2,177 | 18 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #2,215 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1922 | #1,860 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1921 | #2,428 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1920 | #2,113 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1919 | #2,718 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,432 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #1,805 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1916 | #1,903 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #1,836 | 18 | 0.0018% |
| 1914 | #1,775 | 15 | 0.0020% |
| 1913 | #1,951 | 11 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #2,049 | 9 | 0.0016% |
| 1911 | #1,711 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #2,019 | 7 | 0.0018% |
| 1908 | #1,386 | 10 | 0.0030% |
| 1907 | #1,447 | 9 | 0.0028% |
| 1906 | #1,260 | 10 | 0.0034% |
| 1904 | #1,753 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| 1899 | #1,712 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1898 | #1,809 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1897 | #1,318 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1896 | #1,682 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1893 | #1,126 | 8 | 0.0038% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | #8,417 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #10,214 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #9,832 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #6,609 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #9,271 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #6,346 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #6,811 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #8,627 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #3,138 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #3,011 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #2,998 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #2,026 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1985 | #2,191 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1984 | #2,743 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #1,976 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1982 | #2,754 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #1,919 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1980 | #2,181 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1979 | #2,414 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #2,099 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1977 | #2,397 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,198 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #3,523 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #2,016 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #1,794 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #2,037 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,160 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #2,673 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #2,474 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #1,919 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #1,684 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #2,086 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #2,123 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #1,932 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,248 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,581 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #2,619 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,069 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,887 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #1,865 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1957 | #1,917 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #1,584 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1955 | #2,083 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,155 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #2,070 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #1,895 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #1,799 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #1,775 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #2,275 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #1,734 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1947 | #1,623 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #1,581 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,971 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1944 | #2,122 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #1,733 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1942 | #2,087 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #1,720 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1940 | #1,844 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1939 | #1,601 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #2,126 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1937 | #1,950 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #2,119 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,451 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #1,810 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,737 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1932 | #1,618 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1931 | #2,557 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1930 | #1,582 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1929 | #1,701 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1928 | #2,210 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1927 | #1,717 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1926 | #1,943 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1925 | #1,553 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,433 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1923 | #1,524 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1922 | #1,923 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #1,612 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1920 | #1,566 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1919 | #1,924 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1918 | #1,244 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1917 | #1,612 | 21 | 0.0023% |
| 1916 | #1,891 | 16 | 0.0018% |
| 1915 | #1,828 | 16 | 0.0019% |
| 1914 | #1,463 | 18 | 0.0027% |
| 1913 | #1,348 | 16 | 0.0031% |
| 1912 | #1,575 | 11 | 0.0026% |
| 1911 | #1,630 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1909 | #1,364 | 6 | 0.0037% |
| 1908 | #1,155 | 7 | 0.0045% |
| 1905 | #1,319 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1900 | #999 | 8 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #1,042 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1894 | #819 | 8 | 0.0069% |
| 1892 | #1,014 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1888 | #783 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1885 | #877 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1880 | #977 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Holly
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Holly Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Holly's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Holly's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.