Molly

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Molly

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Molly is an English diminutive for the name Mary (via the same principle that gives Hal to Harry, Dolly for Dorothy, and Sally for Sarah). Mary is the English form of Marie, the French form of Maria, the Latin form of a Hebrew (or Egyptian) name: Miriam, Mariamne, or Myriam. The meaning is disputed. Some suggestions include: "Wished for Child," "Bitterness," or "Drop of the Sea," or "Rebelliousness."

History:
Molly, and its sister name Mally, formed from Mary, and both slowly became a common diminutive after the 13th century. Mally, originally was the commoner name, but it died out in the 18th century.
In the United States, the spelling version Mollie was originally more common, but has since switched places with the Molly version.

Pronunciation: moll-ee.

Alternates: Moll, Molle, Mollie, Mollee, Pol, Polly.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Molly Keane (Mary Nesta Skrine) (1903-1996)
Irish novelist.

Miscellaneous:
Molly Brown (1867-1932)
Wealthy American socialite and Titanic survivor. Born Margaret Brown.

Other:
Molly Maguires (1862)
Secret organization of coal mines in the U.S.

Singers and Entertainers:
Molly Picon (1898-1992)
American actress and singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.055 % named Molly
0.022 % named Polly
0.020 % named Mollie

Popularity of Molly:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 374th most popular.
1910-1920: 352nd most popular.
1920-1930: 414th most popular.
1930-1940: 389th most popular.
1940-1950: 376th most popular.
1950-1960: 344th most popular.
1960-1970: 307th most popular.
1970-1980: 186th most popular.
1980-1990: 108th most popular.
1990: 88th most popular.
1991: 75th most popular.
1992: 83rd most popular.
1993: 88th most popular.
1994: 97th most popular.
1995: 101st most popular.
1996: 99th most popular.
1997: 100th most popular.
1998: 108th most popular.
1999: 102nd most popular.
2000: 95th most popular.
2001: 92nd most popular.
2002: 111th most popular.
2003: 102nd most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 87th most popular.
1999: 63rd most popular.
2000: 43rd most popular.
2001: 31st most popular.
2002: 33rd most popular.
2003: 37th most popular.