Dolly

At a Glance

Origin

English (uncertain base name)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

DOL-eeListen

Dolly is an English name whose exact roots are a bit murky. You may have seen it explained as meaning 'sorrows' or 'gift of God,' but those meanings actually belong to Dolores and Dorothy, not Dolly itself. Dolly is often used as a pet form of one of those names, though no single source name is confirmed.

Meaning & Origin of Dolly

Origin: English (uncertain base name).

A common claim: Dolly is often said to mean 'sorrows' or 'gift of God,' meanings that actually belong to Dolores and Dorothy. Actually: Those meanings belong to Dolores and Dorothy, not Dolly itself. Dolly is commonly a pet form of either name, but no single base name — and so no single meaning — is established.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Dolly

Popularity of Dolly

Dolly hit its high point in 1881, ranking #277 with 33 babies given the name that year, and by 2024 it had fallen to #1624 with 127 babies.

Names Like Dolly

These names have followed a similar path to Dolly in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Dove
• Abbie
• Georgiana
• Gibson
• Lenna
• Gentry

FAQ

What does the name Dolly mean?

Dolly is often said to mean ‘sorrows’ or ‘gift of God,’ meanings that actually belong to Dolores and Dorothy. Those meanings belong to Dolores and Dorothy, not Dolly itself. Dolly is commonly a pet form of either name, but no single base name — and so no single meaning — is established.

How do you pronounce Dolly?

Dolly is pronounced DOL-ee (IPA: /ˈdɒli/).

Is Dolly a popular name right now?

Dolly peaked at #277 in 1881 and is ranked #1624 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Dolly Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Dolly, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.