Polly

Meaning: Bitter; or possibly rebellion/disobedience
Origin: Variant of Molly · Hebrew roots; debated (from Hebrew)

Girl's name · #2318 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Polly — on the books since 1880, #2318 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 30,000 girls share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Polly is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Polly ranks in other countries and regions.

#204 in England & Wales (2025) · #324 in N. Ireland (2025) · #348 in Ireland (2025) · #467 in Scotland (2025) · #604 in Sweden (2025) · #722 in Belgium (2025) · #988 in Netherlands (2025) · #3,344 in Canada (2024).

Famous Pollys

Polly Bergen — American actress, singer, entrepreneur (1930–2014)
Polly Holliday — American actress
Polly Walker — British actress
Polly Samson — English novelist, lyricist and journalist
Polly Ann Young — American actress (1908–1997)

In stories & tradition

Polly Plummer — The Magician's Nephew (book)
Polly — Resistance (book)
Polly Sherman — Fawlty Towers (TV series)

What Pollys become

Among 232 notable people named Polly:

Entertainers appear 2.08× more often than among typical names — e.g. Polly Bergen, American actress, singer, entrepreneur (1930–2014).

Similar names: Mollie · Leora · Posie · Dolly · Liza · Janie

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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