Polly
Meaning
traditionally diminutive of Mary; meaning of Mary disputed
The formal names behind Polly
Polly is an established short form of this name.
Mary · Hebrew origin · bitter; beloved
Polly around the world
One shared root links 17 names across 9 languages.
Shared root: from Hebrew Miryam, its meaning long debated; traditional glosses run "bitter" and "beloved", with an Egyptian root meaning "love" also argued
The constellation
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Polly peaked in the 1890s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
80 people · the #48,268 first name in Brazil · median age 29
Among people named Polly living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Polly
People given the name Polly in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1950 to 1979. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Polly deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Polly truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Polly fits with your family’s names and surname.
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