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The short answer
Holly is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the English word for the holly tree, ultimately derived from Old English holen. Holly Golightly is the main character in the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) by Truman Capote." It ranked #416 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the English word for the holly tree, ultimately derived from Old English holen. Holly Golightly is the main character in the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) by Truman Capote. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Holly ranked #416 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #416 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Holly in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Holly mean?
Behind the Name does not give Holly a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from the English word for the holly tree, ultimately.
Is Holly a popular name?
Holly ranked #416 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Holly a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Holly appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Holly — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
