Polly

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly bitter or rebellious
Origin: Hebrew — Short form of Mary, rhymed on Molly

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 have carried the name since. 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) · #290 in N. Ireland (2025) · #325 in Ireland (2025) · #429 in Scotland (2025) · #604 in Sweden (2025) · #695 in Belgium (2025) · #988 in Netherlands (2025) · #3,044 in Canada (2025) · #3,299 in Austria (2024) · #6,724 in France (2024) · #10,535 in Ecuador (2023) · #677 in Poland (2016) and 1 more.

Famous Pollys

Polly Bergen — American actress (1930–2014)
Polly Holliday — American actress (1937–2025)
Polly Walker — English actress (born 1966)
Polly Samson — English novelist, lyricist and journalist (born 1962)
Polly Draper — American actress (born 1955)

In stories & tradition

Polly Plummer — Fictional girl, second lead character in The Magician's Nephew (Narnia, book 6)
Polly — Resistance (book)
Polly Sherman — Fictional character from the British sitcom Fawlty Towers

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 (1930–2014).

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

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

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service