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Why parents love Molly- It's the friendliest name in the English language — nobody dislikes a Molly.
- Molly Bloom's monologue in Ulysses is one of literature's greatest passages.
- Molly Ringwald defined a generation of teen films.
- Two syllables with a warm, bouncy sound: MOL-ee.
- It carries Mary's sacred depth in an approachable package.
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The vibe of Molly
warmfriendlyliteraryapproachableIrishbouncytrustedjoyful
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Origin & history of Molly
Hebrew Miriam
→ Latin Maria
→ English Mary
→ medieval pet form Molly
1
Hebrew / English roots
Molly originated as a medieval English pet form of Mary, through the intermediate Mally. It has been used independently since at least the 18th century. Molly Bloom is the wife of Leopold Bloom in James Joyce's Ulysses (1922) — her final soliloquy, an unpunctuated stream of consciousness ending with yes I said yes I will Yes, is considered one of the greatest passages in English literature. Molly Ringwald starred in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles, defining 1980s teen cinema. The name has been consistently popular in both the US and UK.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Medieval England as a pet form of Mary; has been independently popular for centuries.
3
Today
Molly remains a beloved choice, ranking #176 in the US. 174,877 babies have been named Molly since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Molly?
1991
peak year
Today, Molly ranks around #176 in the United States, with roughly 1,723 new arrivals per year. But it wasn't always this way. At its peak in 1991, 4,652 babies were given the name (ranked #74 nationally). Its strongest stretch was the 1990s. Molly's usage has held roughly steady recently. In all, around 174,877 babies have been registered as Molly since 1880.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
4,652
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #74)
(ranked #74)
1,723
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
17,230
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
174,877
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Molly5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.
Molly's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — surprising drive beneath the friendliest exterior. People named Molly tend to be warm, capable, and more ambitious than their approachable manner suggests. They get things done while everyone else is still chatting.
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Gets things done✦
Warm ambition◈
Friendliest achiever◎
Capable and approachable♡
More driven than she looksM4
O6
L3
L3
Y7
Sum: 23 → Life path 5
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Personality of Molly🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
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Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
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Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
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Famous people named MollyClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
M
Molly Bloom
Character in Joyce's Ulysses whose monologue ends one of literature's greatest novels.
M
Molly Ringwald
Actress who defined 1980s teen cinema.
M
Molly Shannon
Comedian and actress known for SNL and Superstar.
M
Molly Ivins
Beloved Texas political columnist and humorist.
M
Molly Malone
Heroine of Dublin's most famous folk song.
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If you like Molly, you may also love◎
Names that sound like MollyIf you love Molly, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with MollySibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Molly.
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Middle names for MollyThe right middle name turns Molly into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Molly? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Molly →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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