Name Holly
Holly is a feminine name with Old English origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.
Meaning of the name Holly
Origins and Core Meaning
Holly, derived from the Old English word "holegn", signifies "holy". In medieval England, holly was considered a sacred tree, symbolizing protection, fertility, and good fortune. The evergreen nature of holly reflects resilience, perseverance, and eternal life.
Detailed Insights on Holly
Origins
Old English: "holegn" (holy).
Symbolic Representation
Holly embodies the spirit of nature. Its evergreen leaves symbolize the enduring strength of life, while its red berries represent fertility, passion, and protection. In astrology, Holly is linked to the zodiac sign Capricorn, known for its determination, ambition, and practicality.
Personality Traits
The name Holly evokes a sense of warmth, joy, and festivity. It reflects the cheerfulness of the Christmas season, where holly is associated with merriments, gift-giving, and family gatherings.
Key Personality Traits
Personal Meanings of the Name Holly
Holly Overview & Analysis
Gender statistics
Holly is predominantly a girl's name with a strong feminine identity. Among 277,906 people named Holly, 277,836 are female and 70 are male resulting in a 99.975% female distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Holly's strong feminine identity.
Data Explanation
This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Holly's gender association.
Popularity
Holly classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 294 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named Holly is nearly 0.08%, or about one in 1,000+ people.
Based on the latest data from 2021 (5), 2022 (6), 2023 (5), Holly's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is 3.96%. The name Holly was most popular in 1983, making up 0.2% of baby names (or about one in 400+ babies), and reached its lowest point in 1927 with a usage rate of 0.0002%.
Country-Specific Prevalence
| Flag | Country | Rank | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 50 | 0.34% | |
| Australia | 224 | 0.12% | |
| New Zealand | 259 | 0.11% | |
| Canada | 267 | 0.07% | |
| United States | 372 | 0.06% |
People named Holly are predominantly found in United Kingdom (UK), particularly in East Wales (EW), where it makes up 0.36% of the population.
Data Source
The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:
- United States: Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/)
- Canada: Government of Ontario (https://data.ontario.ca/). Alberta’s top baby names (https://www.alberta.ca/). B.C.'s Most Popular Baby Names (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/)
- United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/)
- Australia: Government of South Australia (https://data.sa.gov.au/). Government of New South Wales (https://www.nsw.gov.au/). Northern Territory Government (https://nt.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (https://www.data.govt.nz/)
- Supplemental Sources: To enrich our data-driven approach, we supplement our primary sources with information from credible websites, academic publications, and expert opinions. This ensures that we provide a well-rounded perspective on baby names.
To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.
Additional Information on Holly
Pronunciation and Phonetics
- Name
- Holly
- Pronunciation
- hol-ee
- hol-ly
- h-AH-l-ee
- HHAAL-IY
- IPA Notation
- hɑˈli
- Syllable
- Stressed:hol-ly
- Syllable Count:2 Syllables
Chinese Translation of the Name Holly
- Translation
- 奥利
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : ào lì
- Feng Shui
- 奥Earth利Fire
Holly in Numerology
| H | O | L | L | Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 7 | |||
| 8 | 3 | 3 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
Holly's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 4
- You actively and honestly explore, learn, and share knowledge with others.
- You strive to bring stability, organization, and order to your family, workplace, and community.
- You desire financial, emotional, and physical stability to lead a safe and secure life.
Holly's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 5
- You have a need to express yourself and break free from financial limitations. Your body is capable of great things.
- You are often misunderstood, shy, or embarrassed. You should find comfortable and free jobs. The friends you hang out with feel happy, comfortable, not tied down, and not bound by rules.
Holly's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 9
- You are artistic, generous, idealistic, poetic, visionary, and altruistic.
- You are always inclined to engage in charity, giving, and helping others. You have a keen appreciation for art and beauty.
Famous People Named Holly
- Holly Hunter: Academy Award-winning American actress, known for her roles in "The Piano" and "Broadcast News."
- Holly Marie Combs: American actress, best known for her role as Piper Halliwell in the TV series "Charmed."
- Holly Willoughby: English television presenter, known for hosting shows such as "This Morning" and "Dancing on Ice."
User-Submitted Information about Holly
Kutjebef55
In 2018, 27 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Holly who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 284th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
C_036743989
Holly is a very common name for girls who are born in December.
Godxofxwar67
This is my sister's name but I read the comment about Holly being a common name for kids born in December and my sister was born in October. The reason she was named this was because my mom looked out the hospital window after giving birth and saw the holly tree so it clicked.
Conclusion
Holly is a captivating name that evokes a myriad of positive associations. Its rich history, cheerful nature, and symbolic meanings make it a beautiful and meaningful choice for a child.
Tonythekebab
Not really sure why, but I've always liked this name. Reminds me of Christmas. :)
Sachund7
This is a pretty name, not too girly when you're old, and not too mature for when you're little. This is the kind of name that no matter what the season its cheerful and beautiful. And not overly used at that. Oh, but wouldn't it be a pain to name quadruplet girls Dolly, Holly, Molly and Polly? That would be both confusing and a tongue-twister. :)
C_526754350
I'm a Holli, which causes MASSIVE hassle, people always spell it wih a y or ie. Holly seems to be becoming a lot more popular at the moment, which is good and bad. Good because it's a lovely name, bad because I've always liked it for being unusual.
I don't agree with saying Holly should be a totally December birth name (I'm a March), however I do think that variations of the spelling are always good to have if you are more spring/summer, so at least people don't immediately think of a plant.
I was told by someone today that it was the kind of name you would expect from the heroine in a romance novel, which was unexpected and rather nice. But she was rather old so it was a very unusual name for her, lol.