Molly
From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.
Every Molly since 1880 — 176,487 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Molly
Molly is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #196 in 2025 with 1,601 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 176,487 American babies have been named Molly. Its peak came in 1991, when 4,663 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Molly stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Molly year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,601 | #196 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,474 | #208 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,437 | #209 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,481 | #199 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,583 | #186 | — | — |
| 2020 | 1,645 | #173 | — | — |
| 2019 | 1,757 | #161 | — | — |
| 2018 | 1,799 | #158 | — | — |
| 2017 | 1,829 | #166 | — | — |
| 2016 | 1,986 | #157 | — | — |
| 2015 | 2,254 | #144 | — | — |
| 2014 | 2,605 | #122 | 5 | #13,403 |
| 2013 | 3,084 | #102 | — | — |
| 2012 | 3,261 | #90 | 9 | #8,645 |
| 2011 | 3,616 | #78 | 7 | #10,404 |
| 2010 | 3,362 | #87 | 7 | #10,401 |
| 2009 | 3,510 | #92 | — | — |
| 2008 | 3,321 | #104 | 5 | #13,941 |
| 2007 | 3,415 | #97 | 6 | #11,884 |
| 2006 | 3,127 | #105 | 6 | #11,592 |
| 2005 | 3,215 | #97 | 7 | #9,809 |
| 2004 | 3,344 | #97 | 28 | #3,426 |
| 2003 | 3,403 | #99 | — | — |
| 2002 | 3,119 | #107 | — | — |
| 2001 | 3,415 | #90 | — | — |
| 2000 | 3,402 | #96 | 7 | #8,824 |
| 1995 | 3,382 | #98 | — | — |
| 1990 | 3,965 | #80 | 9 | #5,674 |
| 1985 | 2,434 | #119 | 8 | #5,013 |
| 1980 | 2,202 | #133 | 11 | #3,763 |
| 1975 | 1,547 | #170 | 6 | #5,242 |
| 1970 | 1,191 | #259 | — | — |
| 1965 | 1,062 | #264 | — | — |
| 1960 | 727 | #361 | — | — |
| 1955 | 622 | #344 | — | — |
| 1950 | 564 | #324 | — | — |
| 1945 | 333 | #387 | — | — |
| 1940 | 345 | #349 | — | — |
| 1935 | 301 | #365 | — | — |
| 1930 | 342 | #362 | — | — |
| 1925 | 241 | #443 | — | — |
| 1920 | 246 | #427 | — | — |
| 1915 | 325 | #331 | — | — |
| 1910 | 145 | #316 | — | — |
| 1905 | 71 | #402 | — | — |
| 1900 | 67 | #411 | — | — |
| 1895 | 45 | #422 | — | — |
| 1890 | 46 | #372 | — | — |
| 1885 | 30 | #378 | — | — |
| 1880 | 18 | #400 | — | — |
Famous people named Molly
- Molly Ringwald Actor · b. 1968
- Molly Peters Actor · 1942–2017
- Molly Shannon Actor · b. 1964
- Molly Quinn Actor · b. 1993
- Molly Parker Actor · b. 1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Molly mean?
From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.
How popular is the name Molly in 2025?
Molly ranked #196 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,601 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Molly?
176,487 babies have been named Molly in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Molly most popular?
Molly peaked in 1991, when 4,663 newborns received the name.
Is Molly a boy or girl name?
Molly is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Molly rising or falling?
Molly is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Molly?
Well-known people named Molly include Molly Ringwald (actor), Molly Peters (actor), Molly Shannon (actor).