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
- Peak · girls
- 1991 · 4,652 births
- Debut · girls
- 18 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 21 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 176,127since 1880
Molly over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #196 | 1,601 | — | |
| 2024 | #208 | 1,474 | — | |
| 2023 | #209 | 1,437 | — | |
| 2022 | #199 | 1,481 | — | |
| 2021 | #186 | 1,583 | — | |
| 2020 | #173 | 1,645 | — | |
| 2019 | #161 | 1,757 | — | |
| 2018 | #157 | 1,799 | — | |
| 2017 | #166 | 1,829 | — | |
| 2016 | #157 | 1,986 | — | |
| 2015 | #144 | 2,254 | — | |
| 2014 | #122 | 2,605 | #12,108 | 5 |
| 2013 | #102 | 3,084 | — | |
| 2012 | #90 | 3,261 | #8,158 | 9 |
| 2011 | #78 | 3,616 | #9,600 | 7 |
| 2010 | #87 | 3,362 | #9,693 | 7 |
| 2009 | #92 | 3,510 | — | |
| 2008 | #104 | 3,321 | #12,553 | 5 |
| 2007 | #97 | 3,415 | #10,921 | 6 |
| 2006 | #105 | 3,127 | #10,662 | 6 |
| 2005 | #97 | 3,215 | #9,115 | 7 |
| 2004 | #97 | 3,344 | #3,368 | 28 |
| 2003 | #99 | 3,403 | — | |
| 2002 | #107 | 3,119 | — | |
| 2001 | #90 | 3,415 | — | |
| 2000 | #96 | 3,402 | #8,209 | 7 |
| 1999 | #102 | 3,326 | #6,530 | 9 |
| 1998 | #108 | 3,192 | #8,479 | 6 |
| 1997 | #98 | 3,452 | — | |
| 1996 | #99 | 3,312 | #7,971 | 6 |
| 1995 | #98 | 3,382 | — | |
| 1994 | #95 | 3,441 | #7,770 | 6 |
| 1993 | #87 | 3,708 | #8,700 | 5 |
| 1992 | #83 | 4,137 | #5,660 | 9 |
| 1991 | #74 | 4,652 | #4,760 | 11 |
| 1990 | #80 | 3,965 | #5,382 | 9 |
| 1989 | #93 | 3,460 | #2,106 | 33 |
| 1988 | #86 | 3,461 | #2,860 | 19 |
| 1987 | #97 | 2,891 | #3,959 | 11 |
| 1986 | #110 | 2,548 | #4,130 | 10 |
| 1985 | #119 | 2,434 | #4,698 | 8 |
| 1984 | #131 | 2,178 | #2,956 | 15 |
| 1983 | #129 | 2,311 | #3,230 | 13 |
| 1982 | #131 | 2,317 | #2,426 | 20 |
| 1981 | #135 | 2,089 | #3,601 | 11 |
| 1980 | #133 | 2,202 | #3,615 | 11 |
| 1979 | #139 | 2,022 | #4,403 | 8 |
| 1978 | #142 | 1,931 | #3,857 | 9 |
| 1977 | #141 | 2,067 | #3,386 | 11 |
| 1976 | #150 | 1,729 | #3,724 | 9 |
| 1975 | #170 | 1,547 | #4,797 | 6 |
| 1974 | #179 | 1,480 | #5,227 | 5 |
| 1973 | #195 | 1,329 | #4,054 | 7 |
| 1972 | #226 | 1,234 | #4,441 | 6 |
| 1971 | #248 | 1,185 | — | |
| 1970 | #259 | 1,191 | — | |
| 1969 | #265 | 1,093 | — | |
| 1968 | #265 | 1,020 | — | |
| 1967 | #265 | 1,016 | — | |
| 1966 | #265 | 984 | — | |
| 1965 | #264 | 1,062 | — | |
| 1964 | #290 | 1,001 | — | |
| 1963 | #320 | 859 | — | |
| 1962 | #327 | 821 | — | |
| 1961 | #337 | 781 | — | |
| 1960 | #361 | 727 | — | |
| 1959 | #344 | 763 | — | |
| 1958 | #343 | 746 | — | |
| 1957 | #341 | 699 | — | |
| 1956 | #343 | 654 | — | |
| 1955 | #344 | 622 | — | |
| 1954 | #352 | 599 | — | |
| 1953 | #346 | 582 | — | |
| 1952 | #332 | 617 | — | |
| 1951 | #320 | 612 | — | |
| 1950 | #324 | 564 | — | |
| 1949 | #328 | 556 | — | |
| 1948 | #331 | 562 | — | |
| 1947 | #366 | 484 | — | |
| 1946 | #370 | 415 | — | |
| 1945 | #387 | 333 | — | |
| 1944 | #367 | 366 | — | |
| 1943 | #366 | 386 | — | |
| 1942 | #362 | 375 | — | |
| 1941 | #363 | 339 | — | |
| 1940 | #349 | 345 | — | |
| 1939 | #340 | 348 | — | |
| 1938 | #359 | 329 | — | |
| 1937 | #369 | 306 | — | |
| 1936 | #357 | 316 | — | |
| 1935 | #363 | 301 | — | |
| 1934 | #369 | 291 | — | |
| 1933 | #393 | 271 | — | |
| 1932 | #360 | 315 | — | |
| 1931 | #370 | 300 | — | |
| 1930 | #362 | 342 | — | |
| 1929 | #375 | 320 | — | |
| 1928 | #381 | 315 | — | |
| 1927 | #430 | 258 | — | |
| 1926 | #433 | 255 | — | |
| 1925 | #443 | 241 | — | |
| 1924 | #404 | 290 | — | |
| 1923 | #387 | 293 | — | |
| 1922 | #396 | 277 | — | |
| 1921 | #384 | 302 | — | |
| 1920 | #427 | 246 | — | |
| 1919 | #400 | 258 | — | |
| 1918 | #374 | 306 | — | |
| 1917 | #356 | 310 | — | |
| 1916 | #336 | 333 | — | |
| 1915 | #331 | 325 | — | |
| 1914 | #336 | 247 | — | |
| 1913 | #345 | 197 | — | |
| 1912 | #323 | 197 | — | |
| 1911 | #353 | 129 | — | |
| 1910 | #316 | 145 | — | |
| 1909 | #343 | 109 | — | |
| 1908 | #358 | 101 | — | |
| 1907 | #324 | 113 | — | |
| 1906 | #362 | 86 | — | |
| 1905 | #401 | 71 | — | |
| 1904 | #392 | 72 | — | |
| 1903 | #370 | 75 | — | |
| 1902 | #420 | 54 | — | |
| 1901 | #397 | 55 | — | |
| 1900 | #407 | 67 | — | |
| 1899 | #424 | 47 | — | |
| 1898 | #491 | 39 | — | |
| 1897 | #414 | 50 | — | |
| 1896 | #409 | 49 | — | |
| 1895 | #421 | 45 | — | |
| 1894 | #463 | 36 | — | |
| 1893 | #353 | 58 | — | |
| 1892 | #373 | 51 | — | |
| 1891 | #440 | 33 | — | |
| 1890 | #369 | 46 | — | |
| 1889 | #410 | 35 | — | |
| 1888 | #403 | 37 | — | |
| 1887 | #378 | 32 | — | |
| 1886 | #400 | 29 | — | |
| 1885 | #373 | 30 | — | |
| 1884 | #349 | 32 | — | |
| 1883 | #324 | 30 | — | |
| 1882 | #323 | 30 | — | |
| 1881 | #277 | 33 | — | |
| 1880 | #388 | 18 | — | |
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 1988
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Alaska#41 · 1 in 164
- Minnesota#42 · 1 in 175
- Kansas#45 · 1 in 199
- Iowa#46 · 1 in 201
- Wyoming#48 · 1 in 168
Best ever in a state: #16 in Vermont, 2005.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #41 | 20 | 1 in 164 |
| Minnesota | #42 | 158 | 1 in 175 |
| Kansas | #45 | 72 | 1 in 199 |
| Iowa | #46 | 78 | 1 in 201 |
| Wyoming | #48 | 11 | 1 in 168 |
| Maine | #50 | 30 | 1 in 204 |
| Nebraska | #50 | 51 | 1 in 177 |
| Wisconsin | #53 | 123 | 1 in 233 |
| Colorado | #58 | 84 | 1 in 248 |
| South Dakota | #58 | 17 | 1 in 219 |
| Massachusetts | #60 | 158 | 1 in 236 |
| New Hampshire | #60 | 30 | 1 in 221 |
| Ohio | #60 | 241 | 1 in 285 |
| Missouri | #62 | 113 | 1 in 280 |
| Connecticut | #67 | 62 | 1 in 302 |
| Oregon | #69 | 49 | 1 in 320 |
| Rhode Island | #69 | 20 | 1 in 260 |
| Montana | #70 | 13 | 1 in 271 |
| Indiana | #76 | 91 | 1 in 373 |
| Illinois | #78 | 183 | 1 in 403 |
| Michigan | #78 | 146 | 1 in 393 |
| Vermont | #78 | 9 | 1 in 291 |
| Washington | #80 | 71 | 1 in 393 |
| Maryland | #81 | 62 | 1 in 419 |
| North Dakota | #81 | 13 | 1 in 313 |
| Pennsylvania | #85 | 170 | 1 in 411 |
| Arizona | #92 | 57 | 1 in 442 |
| Arkansas | #92 | 29 | 1 in 426 |
| Virginia | #93 | 78 | 1 in 460 |
| District of Columbia | #95 | 15 | 1 in 413 |
| Tennessee | #97 | 56 | 1 in 517 |
| West Virginia | #97 | 19 | 1 in 456 |
| Nevada | #98 | 14 | 1 in 404 |
| North Carolina | #102 | 68 | 1 in 564 |
| Idaho | #104 | 11 | 1 in 476 |
| New York | #110 | 177 | 1 in 644 |
| Alabama | #112 | 36 | 1 in 600 |
| Delaware | #115 | 7 | 1 in 500 |
| Louisiana | #118 | 42 | 1 in 626 |
| Georgia | #119 | 61 | 1 in 658 |
| Oklahoma | #119 | 29 | 1 in 600 |
| New Jersey | #124 | 66 | 1 in 686 |
| Utah | #125 | 23 | 1 in 590 |
| California | #135 | 308 | 1 in 742 |
| Kentucky | #136 | 28 | 1 in 731 |
| South Carolina | #138 | 25 | 1 in 750 |
| Mississippi | #153 | 18 | 1 in 748 |
| Texas | #160 | 145 | 1 in 885 |
| Florida | #192 | 62 | 1 in 1,176 |
| New Mexico | #254 | 8 | 1 in 1,165 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1991 at #74 (4,652 births)
- Births halved by 2015, 24 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 21 yrs · run 1987–1997
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 403 girls born in 1991 were named Molly (0.25%)
- Latest: 1 in 1,004 girls born in 2025 (0.10%)
- 20.8% of all girls named Molly (36,567) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 306 | #277 (1881) | #363 |
| 1890s | 454 | #353 (1893) | #416 |
| 1900s | 803 | #324 (1907) | #377 |
| 1910s | 2,447 | #316 (1910) | #347 |
| 1920s | 2,797 | #375 (1929) | #406 |
| 1930s | 3,119 | #340 (1939) | #364 |
| 1940s | 4,161 | #328 (1949) | #359 |
| 1950s | 6,458 | #320 (1951) | #339 |
| 1960s | 9,364 | #264 (1965) | #296 |
| 1970s | 15,715 | #139 (1979) | #185 |
| 1980s | 25,891 | #86 (1988) | #116 |
| 1990s | 36,567 | #74 (1991) | #92 |
| 2000s | 33,271 | #90 (2001) | #98 |
| 2010s | 25,553 | #78 (2011) | #126 |
| 2020s | 9,221 | #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 1988
Top girls' names in 1988
Top boys' names in 1988
More about 1988
girls
1,780,854 girls got a published name in 1988; 1 in 515 of them was named Molly, which outranked 99.4% of the 13,883 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,914,283 boys got a published name in 1988; 1 in 100,752 of them was named Molly, which outranked 66.3% of the 8,495 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #2,765Wilford20
- #2,765Zakery20
- #2,765Zebadiah20
- #2,860Molly19
- #2,860Adolphus19
- #2,860Alvis19
- #2,860Angelica19
- #2,961Adarius18
- #2,961Adel18
- #2,961Adison18
Tied with 100 names at #2,860; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.