The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Molly!

Comments and insights on the name Molly: | Edit

Molly is a beautiful name!

Molly is my favorite name and #1 on the list for a girl!

Personal experiences with the name Molly: | Edit

I named my daughter Molly, and I'd say that William Gibson’s Molly plus Molly Ivins were important influences in making the name seem more smart, tough, sophisticated and adult. The name needs a nudge in this direction, IMO, because it otherwise risks being too cute, friendly, and naive-sounding. I paired it with a big, imposing middle name with family significance: she's Molly Mehitabel or occasionally Molly-bel.

I love names like Ruby, Hazel and Olive, and had always expected to use them for my kids. But these names had become stereotypical hipster baby names by the time I had my daughter, which pushed me toward the more "normal" old fashioned name of Molly.

I named my daughter Molly. Someone called her "Molly-Boo" once when she was a baby and seven years later we still call her Molly-Boo.
My daughters name is Molly as well. I absolutely love it but she hates it with a passion! She has heard of so many dogs named molly she tells me i gave her a dogs name..:(

LOL I absolutely agree about the dogs name..My Molly (9) asks why there are no other people called Molly just dogs... She has a brother and 3 sisters Jett, Ella, Willow, Allani

Nicknames for Molly: | Edit

Moll, Molls, Molz
Moo (Molly Moo)
TaMolly (Tamale)
Molliwog
Molligator
Molecule
Molly Mouse
Molligale
Molz
Mollipop
Miss Molly-all of my friends calls her that first time they meet her, without even knowing that other people call her that
My daughter's nickname is Balls but she's a softball pitcher. Lovely.

Meanings and history of the name Molly: | Edit

The name Molly was traditionally brought to life as a persons name by Mother Catherine and Father Francis in the 19th Century.
Molly was traditionally a nickname for Mary - back when every other girl was named Mary.

Famous real-life people named Molly: | Edit

Molly is related to the famous Luna Moon.
Molly Ringwald, 1980s actress
Margaret "Molly" Brown was a passenger on the Titanic portrayed by Kathy Bates in the film version.
The Molly McGuires were a coal miner union organization in Pennsylvania.

Molly in song, story & screen: | Edit

Molly is a screen name in the film - Happy Days. It was directed by Alan Saunders in the early 1950's. She was a ginger, long haired, freckled geek with no personality.
Molly Weasley - matriarch of the Weasley family in the Harry Potter series
Molly Gibson - heroine of the novel Wives And Daughters (character's given name was Mary; Molly is the traditional nickname.)
Molly Millions - Razorgirl assassin in William Gibson's Neuromancer.
Molly McIntire-American Girl doll and heroine of the "Molly" series of books
There is a band called the Molly McGuires.
Flogging Molly, an Irish American Celtic punk band