When was Molly most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Molly Howard?

The name Molly Howard combines two different traditions: the first name Molly has English roots, while the surname Howard originates from Germanic.

Molly Howard — 85K & 265K bearers

Molly Howard is a name combining English origins, bringing together "beloved" (Molly) with "high guardian" (Howard). The first name Molly is a feminine given name of English origin. Molly (also spelled Molli or Mollie) is a diminutive of the feminine name Mary that, like other English hypocorisms in use since the Middle Ages, substituted l for r. Molly evolved from the English diminutive Mally. English surnames such as Moll, Mollett, and Mollison are derived from Molly. Molly has also been used as a diminutive of Margaret and Martha since the 1700s and as an independent name since at least 1720. The surname Howard: Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward. Molly is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 85K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Molly reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Molly

Meaning: beloved

English

Molly (also spelled Molli or Mollie) is a diminutive of the feminine name Mary that, like other English hypocorisms in use since the Middle Ages, substituted l for r. Molly evolved from the English diminutive Mally. English surnames such as Moll, Mollett, and Mollison are derived from Molly. Molly has also been used as a diminutive of Margaret and Martha since the 1700s and as an independent name since at least 1720.

Surname: Howard

Meaning: high guardian

Germanic

Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.

Geographic Distribution

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

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 13%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

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

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Molly Howard

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 Molly Howard:

11

Expression Number

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

4

Soul Urge Number

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

7

Personality Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

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 Molly?: The first name Molly originates from English. Molly (also spelled Molli or Mollie) is a diminutive of the feminine name Mary that, like other English hypocorisms in use since the Middle Ages, substituted l for r. Molly evolved from the English diminutive Mally. English surnames such as Moll, Mollett, and Mollison are derived from Molly. Molly has also been used as a diminutive of Margaret and Martha since the 1700s and as an independent name since at least 1720.
When was Molly most popular?: The name Molly reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Howard?: The surname Howard originates from Germanic. Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.
What are the origins of the name Molly Howard?: The name Molly Howard combines two different traditions: the first name Molly has English roots, while the surname Howard originates from Germanic.