Holly Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Holly is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Holly?
Holly is spelled H-O-L-L-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Holly at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- The name means “holly plant,” referring to the evergreen shrub with red berries.
- Origin
- The name Holly derives from the Old English word “holen” or “holin,” referring to the holly plant.
- Pronunciation
- HOL-ee · 2 syllables
Holly Popularity in 2025
Rank#416
Recorded Births751
- Girls usage rose 4 places to #416 and recorded 6 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Holly Mean?
The name means “holly plant,” referring to the evergreen shrub with red berries.
Origin: The name Holly derives from the Old English word “holen” or “holin,” referring to the holly plant.
How Do You Pronounce Holly?
PronunciationHOL-ee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Holly?
- History
- Holly has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since the 19th century and increased in popularity during the 20th and 21st centuries.
Holly Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 751 | #416 |
| 2024 | Girls | 745 | #420 |
| 2023 | Girls | 682 | #453 |
| 2022 | Girls | 693 | #457 |
| 2021 | Girls | 673 | #465 |
| 2020 | Girls | 639 | #479 |
| 2019 | Girls | 651 | #483 |
| 2018 | Girls | 608 | #512 |
| 2017 | Girls | 634 | #493 |
| 2016 | Girls | 589 | #527 |
| 2015 | Girls | 653 | #491 |
| 2014 | Girls | 714 | #448 |
| 2013 | Girls | 683 | #450 |
| 2012 | Girls | 740 | #425 |
| 2011 | Girls | 738 | #420 |
| 2010 | Girls | 775 | #409 |
| 2009 | Girls | 858 | #380 |
| 2008 | Girls | 907 | #364 |
| 2007 | Girls | 976 | #339 |
| 2006 | Girls | 955 | #346 |
| 2005 | Girls | 1,040 | #310 |
| 2004 | Girls | 1,119 | #293 |
| 2004 | Boys | 8 | #8,143 |
| 2003 | Girls | 1,227 | #261 |
When Was Holly Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1983 · Girls
6,388 recorded births
National rank #48
1984 · Girls
5,928 recorded births
National rank #53
1985 · Girls
5,602 recorded births
National rank #56
1979 · Girls
5,488 recorded births
National rank #48
Where Holly Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #150 | 5 |
| ID | #193 | 11 |
| MT | #208 | 5 |
| MN | #232 | 24 |
| NH | #236 | 5 |
| KS | #256 | 12 |
| CT | #268 | 12 |
| CO | #277 | 22 |