When was Holly most popular?

The name Holly reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Holly Shields?

The name Holly Shields combines two different traditions: the first name Holly has English roots, while the surname Shields originates from Irish.

Holly Shields — 181K & 51K bearers

Holly Shields is a name that combines English origins. The first name Holly is a feminine given name of English origin. Holly is an English-language surname and given name. Holly is known as an English or Irish surname (variant Holley) it is either locational, ultimately derived from the Old English hol lēah "[dwelling by] the clearing by the hollow", or descriptive, from hol-ēage "hollow-eyed". In Ireland, it was also used as a translation of the name Mac Cuilinn, which is derived from cuileann, the Gaelic name of the holly tree, and by extension sometimes of the similar-sounding McQuillan surname of Ulster. The surname Shields: Brooke Shields (born 1965), American actress Carol Shields (1935–2003), American author Carol Shields (ophthalmologist) (born 1957), American doctor Cian Shields (born 2005), British-Irish racing driver Clayton Shields (born 1976), American basketball player Colin Shields (born 1980), British ice hockey player Claressa Shields (born 1995), American professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist Derek "Mob" Shields (born 1977), a member of the Lords of Chaos Eileen Shields (born 1970), American footwear designer Esther Lucas Shields (1868–1940), American nurse Francis Alexander Shield. Holly is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 181K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Holly reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Holly

English

Holly is an English-language surname and given name. Holly is known as an English or Irish surname (variant Holley) it is either locational, ultimately derived from the Old English hol lēah "[dwelling by] the clearing by the hollow", or descriptive, from hol-ēage "hollow-eyed". In Ireland, it was also used as a translation of the name Mac Cuilinn, which is derived from cuileann, the Gaelic name of the holly tree, and by extension sometimes of the similar-sounding McQuillan surname of Ulster.

Surname: Shields

Irish

Brooke Shields (born 1965), American actress Carol Shields (1935–2003), American author Carol Shields (ophthalmologist) (born 1957), American doctor Cian Shields (born 2005), British-Irish racing driver Clayton Shields (born 1976), American basketball player Colin Shields (born 1980), British ice hockey player Claressa Shields (born 1995), American professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist Derek "Mob" Shields (born 1977), a member of the Lords of Chaos Eileen Shields (born 1970), American footwear designer Esther Lucas Shields (1868–1940), American nurse Francis Alexander Shield.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Holly is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Holly by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Holly Shields

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Holly Shields:

4

Expression Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

2

Soul Urge Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

11

Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Holly?: The first name Holly originates from English. Holly is an English-language surname and given name. Holly is known as an English or Irish surname (variant Holley) it is either locational, ultimately derived from the Old English hol lēah "[dwelling by] the clearing by the hollow", or descriptive, from hol-ēage "hollow-eyed". In Ireland, it was also used as a translation of the name Mac Cuilinn, which is derived from cuileann, the Gaelic name of the holly tree, and by extension sometimes of the similar-sounding McQuillan surname of Ulster.
When was Holly most popular?: The name Holly reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Shields?: The surname Shields originates from Irish. Brooke Shields (born 1965), American actress Carol Shields (1935–2003), American author Carol Shields (ophthalmologist) (born 1957), American doctor Cian Shields (born 2005), British-Irish racing driver Clayton Shields (born 1976), American basketball player Colin Shields (born 1980), British ice hockey player Claressa Shields (born 1995), American professional boxer and professional mixed martial artist Derek "Mob" Shields (born 1977), a member of the Lords of Chaos Eileen Shields (born 1970), American footwear designer Esther Lucas Shields (1868–1940), American nurse Francis Alexander Shield.
What are the origins of the name Holly Shields?: The name Holly Shields combines two different traditions: the first name Holly has English roots, while the surname Shields originates from Irish.