Polly
Say it: POL-ee/ˈpɒli/
GirlMeans a pet form of Mary5 letters2 syllables
#325
in Ireland (2025)
#329 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#295
best rank (2023)
222
babies since 1995
Up 74
10-year rank change
Polly through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #329 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 13 | #295 |
| 2022 | 14 | #306 |
| 2021 | 13 | #324 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 8 | #456 |
| 2018 | 11 | #385 |
| 2017 | 13 | #325 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 |
| 2015 | 11 | #403 |
| 2014 | 7 | #542 |
| 2013 | 12 | #376 |
| 2012 | 10 | #438 |
| 2011 | 9 | #470 |
| 2010 | 8 | #512 |
| 2009 | 9 | #469 |
| 2008 | 10 | #431 |
| 2007 | 6 | #549 |
| 2005 | 5 | #524 |
| 2004 | 4 | #576 |
| 2003 | 5 | #490 |
| 1998 | 3 | #499 |
| 1997 | 3 | #576 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Polly mean?
A pet form of Mary
English, a rhyming nickname made from Molly, itself a pet form of Mary.
Say it right
POLee
The story of Polly
Polly began as a playful nickname. English speakers turned Mary into Molly, and then made a rhyme of Molly by swapping the first letter, which gave Polly. Rhyming pet names like this were common in England for centuries. Today Polly can also be used as a short form of names such as Pauline or Paulina.
In Ireland it first reached the CSO list in 1995. It has never been common, but it has grown gently over the last twenty years. Its busiest year was 2022, with 14 babies, and its best rank was number 295 in 2023.
It is a little more popular in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was number 193 in 2023.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Polly (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Polly
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Polly | 12 | 222 |
In Northern Ireland
#290 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #193 (2023); 75 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.