Dolly Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dolly is derived from the Greek name Dorothea, meaning 'gift of God', and has evolved through Old English as Dorothy before becoming the popular name Dolly. It is associated with warmth and affection and has gained recognition through notable figures such as Dolly Parton.
The name Dolly is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dolly has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Dolly' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6687th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4794th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 354th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 390th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 622nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1167th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2565th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6663rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2645th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Dolly' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dolly"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɒli/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Dolly is often considered a diminutive form of the name Dorothy, which comes from the Greek name Dorothea, meaning 'gift of God'.
Meaning
gift of God
Language Evolution
Dorothea (Greek), Dorothy (Old English), Dolly (English)
Historical Usage
Dolly gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a familiar or affectionate form of Dorothy.
Variants & Derivatives
Doll, Dolly Mae, Dollie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Dolly is perceived as a charming and friendly name, often associated with warmth and affection.
Famous People
Dolly Parton, American singer and songwriter, Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell
Explore More Dolly Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dolly"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dolly"
"Dolly" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6687th of 7545 | 10 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4794th of 6773 | 29 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 354th of 9107 | 6,193 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 390th of 9204 | 5,462 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 622nd of 12526 | 4,319 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1167th of 19264 | 1,624 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2565th of 27321 | 708 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6663rd of 35406 | 283 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2645th of 30306 | 794 |
Regional Popularity of "Dolly" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dolly" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
25.28% 358th/1416 |
28.93% 399th/1379 |
13.14% 311th/2366 |
28.63% 327th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
26.84% 415th/1546 |
29.43% 458th/1556 |
13.90% 327th/2353 |
26.70% 413th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.22% 673rd/2227 |
31.19% 758th/2430 |
18.16% 518th/2853 |
25.91% 719th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
44.77% 1315th/2937 |
36.98% 1288th/3483 |
32.09% 1129th/3518 |
31.08% 1257th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
88.39% 3257th/3685 |
60.65% 2714th/4475 |
59.03% 3066th/5194 |
33.07% 2089th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
66.02% 4927th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
60.17% 2397th/3984 |
84.85% 3807th/4487 |
39.97% 2727th/6822 |
39.64% 2488th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dolly"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dolly" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.