Molly
Girl name · #196 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Molly? In official American birth records, Molly has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Molly is currently the #196 girl name in the United States — 1,601 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #144, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,124 girls born in 2025 was named Molly.
Babies named Molly per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Molly first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 4,652 girls were named Molly — good for #74 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Molly against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Molly in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Molly is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Molly is most common
Geography matters for names, and Molly is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Molly is most common in LA (2.4 per 1,000), MA (2.4 per 1,000), CT (2.3 per 1,000), MS (2.2 per 1,000), KS (2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Molly is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Molly
Statistically, parents drawn to Molly tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Holly, Ana, Mallory, Bailey, and Lilly.
HollyAnaMalloryBaileyLillyMorganJasmineMarina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Molly | 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 | #157 |
| 2017 | 1,829 | #166 |
| 2016 | 1,986 | #157 |
| 2015 | 2,254 | #144 |
| 2014 | 2,605 | #122 |
| 2013 | 3,084 | #102 |
| 2012 | 3,261 | #90 |
| 2011 | 3,616 | #78 |
| 2010 | 3,362 | #87 |
| 2009 | 3,510 | #92 |
| 2008 | 3,321 | #104 |
| 2007 | 3,415 | #97 |
| 2006 | 3,127 | #105 |
| 2005 | 3,215 | #97 |
| 2004 | 3,344 | #97 |
| 2003 | 3,403 | #99 |
| 2002 | 3,119 | #107 |
| 2001 | 3,415 | #90 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Molly?
In official American birth records, the name Molly first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 18 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Molly a popular girl name?
Molly ranked #196 among girls in 2025 with 1,601 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #144.
When was the name Molly most popular?
Molly peaked in 1991, when 4,652 American girls received the name (ranked #74 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Molly?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,124 newborn American girls was named Molly. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.