Molly

#196 for girls in 2025, 1,601 births · Last seen for boys in 2014 at #12,108
Given to girls 99.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1991 · 4,652 births
Debut · girls
18 births
In top 100 · girls
21 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
176,127
since 1880

Molly over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201985peak #74, 1991girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1961,601—
2024#2081,474—
2023#2091,437—
2022#1991,481—
2021#1861,583—
2020#1731,645—
2019#1611,757—
2018#1571,799—
2017#1661,829—
2016#1571,986—
2015#1442,254—
2014#1222,605#12,1085
2013#1023,084—
2012#903,261#8,1589
2011#783,616#9,6007
2010#873,362#9,6937
2009#923,510—
2008#1043,321#12,5535
2007#973,415#10,9216
2006#1053,127#10,6626
2005#973,215#9,1157
2004#973,344#3,36828
2003#993,403—
2002#1073,119—
2001#903,415—
2000#963,402#8,2097
1999#1023,326#6,5309
1998#1083,192#8,4796
1997#983,452—
1996#993,312#7,9716
1995#983,382—
1994#953,441#7,7706
1993#873,708#8,7005
1992#834,137#5,6609
1991#744,652#4,76011
1990#803,965#5,3829
1989#933,460#2,10633
1988#863,461#2,86019
1987#972,891#3,95911
1986#1102,548#4,13010
1985#1192,434#4,6988
1984#1312,178#2,95615
1983#1292,311#3,23013
1982#1312,317#2,42620
1981#1352,089#3,60111
1980#1332,202#3,61511
1979#1392,022#4,4038
1978#1421,931#3,8579
1977#1412,067#3,38611
1976#1501,729#3,7249
1975#1701,547#4,7976
1974#1791,480#5,2275
1973#1951,329#4,0547
1972#2261,234#4,4416
1971#2481,185—
1970#2591,191—
1969#2651,093—
1968#2651,020—
1967#2651,016—
1966#265984—
1965#2641,062—
1964#2901,001—
1963#320859—
1962#327821—
1961#337781—
1960#361727—
1959#344763—
1958#343746—
1957#341699—
1956#343654—
1955#344622—
1954#352599—
1953#346582—
1952#332617—
1951#320612—
1950#324564—
1949#328556—
1948#331562—
1947#366484—
1946#370415—
1945#387333—
1944#367366—
1943#366386—
1942#362375—
1941#363339—
1940#349345—
1939#340348—
1938#359329—
1937#369306—
1936#357316—
1935#363301—
1934#369291—
1933#393271—
1932#360315—
1931#370300—
1930#362342—
1929#375320—
1928#381315—
1927#430258—
1926#433255—
1925#443241—
1924#404290—
1923#387293—
1922#396277—
1921#384302—
1920#427246—
1919#400258—
1918#374306—
1917#356310—
1916#336333—
1915#331325—
1914#336247—
1913#345197—
1912#323197—
1911#353129—
1910#316145—
1909#343109—
1908#358101—
1907#324113—
1906#36286—
1905#40171—
1904#39272—
1903#37075—
1902#42054—
1901#39755—
1900#40767—
1899#42447—
1898#49139—
1897#41450—
1896#40949—
1895#42145—
1894#46336—
1893#35358—
1892#37351—
1891#44033—
1890#36946—
1889#41035—
1888#40337—
1887#37832—
1886#40029—
1885#37330—
1884#34932—
1883#32430—
1882#32330—
1881#27733—
1880#38818—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Molly was already there! It came in at #388, and was given to 18 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880, when fewer than 19 girls a year got the name.

Where Molly is popular in 1985

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #67 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 266 girlsAKMaine: #77 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 353 girlsMEVermont: #51 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 170 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #66 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 258 girlsNHWashington: #71 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 354 girlsWAIdaho: #66 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 250 girlsIDMontana: #72 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 312 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #89 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 383 girlsNDMinnesota: #42 for girls · 153 births · 1 in 187 girlsMNIllinois: #84 for girls · 149 births · 1 in 490 girlsILWisconsin: #63 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 329 girlsWIMichigan: #95 for girls · 106 births · 1 in 540 girlsMINew York: #180 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 1,058 girlsNYMassachusetts: #102 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 449 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Molly, so not publishedRIOregon: #65 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 319 girlsORNevada: #172 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 800 girlsNVWyoming: #39 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 162 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #63 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 243 girlsSDIowa: #50 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 218 girlsIAIndiana: #77 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 410 girlsINOhio: #70 for girls · 172 births · 1 in 402 girlsOHPennsylvania: #115 for girls · 111 births · 1 in 623 girlsPANew Jersey: #254 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,684 girlsNJConnecticut: #162 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 852 girlsCTCalifornia: #210 for girls · 170 births · 1 in 1,190 girlsCAUtah: #133 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 652 girlsUTColorado: #63 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 318 girlsCONebraska: #52 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 217 girlsNEMissouri: #71 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 393 girlsMOKentucky: #149 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 850 girlsKYWest Virginia: #153 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 756 girlsWVVirginia: #141 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 824 girlsVAMaryland: #123 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 652 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Molly, so not publishedDEArizona: #161 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 821 girlsAZNew Mexico: #194 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 873 girlsNMKansas: #89 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 407 girlsKSArkansas: #170 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 907 girlsARTennessee: #149 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 817 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #166 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 936 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #274 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,621 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #216 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 948 girlsDCOklahoma: #161 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 875 girlsOKLouisiana: #152 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 813 girlsLAMississippi: #224 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,134 girlsMSAlabama: #212 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,210 girlsALGeorgia: #152 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 843 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Molly, so not publishedHITexas: #223 for girls · 103 births · 1 in 1,295 girlsTXFlorida: #227 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 1,450 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Wyoming#39 · 1 in 162
  2. Minnesota#42 · 1 in 187
  3. Iowa#50 · 1 in 218
  4. Vermont#51 · 1 in 170
  5. Nebraska#52 · 1 in 217

Best ever in a state: #16 in Vermont, 2005.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#39171 in 162
Minnesota#421531 in 187
Iowa#50791 in 218
Vermont#51161 in 170
Nebraska#52461 in 217
Colorado#63691 in 318
South Dakota#63171 in 243
Wisconsin#63931 in 329
Oregon#65491 in 319
Idaho#66241 in 250
New Hampshire#66231 in 258
Alaska#67151 in 266
Ohio#701721 in 402
Missouri#71821 in 393
Washington#71781 in 354
Montana#72141 in 312
Indiana#77831 in 410
Maine#77181 in 353
Illinois#841491 in 490
Kansas#89361 in 407
North Dakota#89121 in 383
Michigan#951061 in 540
Massachusetts#102781 in 449
Pennsylvania#1151111 in 623
Maryland#123371 in 652
Utah#133221 in 652
Virginia#141401 in 824
Kentucky#149251 in 850
Tennessee#149341 in 817
Georgia#152441 in 843
Louisiana#152371 in 813
West Virginia#153131 in 756
Arizona#161281 in 821
Oklahoma#161231 in 875
Connecticut#162201 in 852
North Carolina#166381 in 936
Arkansas#170141 in 907
Nevada#17261 in 800
New York#1801011 in 1,058
New Mexico#194111 in 873
California#2101701 in 1,190
Alabama#212181 in 1,210
District of Columbia#21661 in 948
Texas#2231031 in 1,295
Mississippi#224131 in 1,134
Florida#227451 in 1,450
New Jersey#254241 in 1,684
South Carolina#274111 in 1,621
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Rhode Island———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Molly
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 12 spots since 2024 (#208 → #196)
  • 23 spots since 2020 (#173 → #196)
  • 52 spots since 2015 (#144 → #196)
  • Biggest jump: 111 spots in 1881 (#388 → #277)
  • Biggest drop: 110 spots in 1894 (#353 → #463)
Rise & fade · girls
111 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1991 at #74 (4,652 births)
  • Births halved by 2015, 24 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 21 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 21 yrs · run 1987–1997
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 403
  • Highest: 1 in 403 girls born in 1991 were named Molly (0.25%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,004 girls born in 2025 (0.10%)
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 20.8% of all girls named Molly (36,567) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s306#277 (1881)#363
1890s454#353 (1893)#416
1900s803#324 (1907)#377
1910s2,447#316 (1910)#347
1920s2,797#375 (1929)#406
1930s3,119#340 (1939)#364
1940s4,161#328 (1949)#359
1950s6,458#320 (1951)#339
1960s9,364#264 (1965)#296
1970s15,715#139 (1979)#185
1980s25,891#86 (1988)#116
1990s36,567#74 (1991)#92
2000s33,271#90 (2001)#98
2010s25,553#78 (2011)#126
2020s9,221#173 (2020)#195

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Molly in 1985

girls
#119
2,434 births · 1 in 707 girls
boys
#4,698
8 births · 1 in 231,026 boys

Top girls' names in 1985

  1. #1Jessica48,345
  2. #2Ashley47,010
  3. #3Jennifer42,661
  4. #4Amanda39,055
  5. #5Sarah24,879
  6. #6Stephanie23,243
  7. #7Nicole22,966
  8. #8Heather21,151
  9. #9Elizabeth20,545
  10. #10Megan20,013
  11. #119Molly2,434

Top boys' names in 1985

  1. #1Michael64,934
  2. #2Christopher59,609
  3. #3Matthew47,075
  4. #4Joshua42,194
  5. #5Daniel38,559
  6. #6David38,522
  7. #7James35,862
  8. #8Robert32,094
  9. #9John31,502
  10. #10Joseph30,222
  11. #4,698Molly8
More about 1985

girls

1,720,828 girls got a published name in 1985; 1 in 707 of them was named Molly, which outranked 99.0% of the 12,505 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Molly
  1. #116Pamela2,468
  2. #117Hannah2,449
  3. #118Renee2,440
  4. #119Molly2,434
  5. #120Denise2,433
  6. #121Misty2,413
  7. #122Brenda2,385
Biggest movers since 1984
Risers
  1. ↑ 7,360Kayleigh#8,153 → #793
  2. ↑ 1,675Madison#2,299 → #624
  3. ↑ 1,167Cierra#1,633 → #466
  4. ↑ 1,002Ciera#1,703 → #701
  5. ↑ 787Krystina#1,332 → #545
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,164Grisel#784 → #1,948
  2. ↓ 893Ciji#963 → #1,856
  3. ↓ 419Falon#914 → #1,333
  4. ↓ 364Alesia#969 → #1,333
  5. ↓ 362Echo#845 → #1,207

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,848,210 boys got a published name in 1985; 1 in 231,026 of them was named Molly, which outranked 38.1% of the 7,586 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Molly
  1. #4,333Zeno9
  2. #4,333Ziad9
  3. #4,333Zion9
  4. #4,698Molly8
  5. #4,698Abdulla8
  6. #4,698Abrahan8
  7. #4,698Adrin8
  8. #5,147Aaran7
  9. #5,147Aarn7
  10. #5,147Abby7

Tied with 448 names at #4,698; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1984
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,425Jaymes#3,270 → #845
  2. ↑ 977Trace#1,933 → #956
  3. ↑ 933Durrell#1,656 → #723
  4. ↑ 793Durell#1,399 → #606
  5. ↑ 562Brandyn#1,444 → #882
Fallers
  1. ↓ 420Anwar#951 → #1,371
  2. ↓ 345Zebulon#976 → #1,321
  3. ↓ 303Tavares#925 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 250Alonso#931 → #1,181
  5. ↓ 228Abdul#1,000 → #1,228

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1985 →