When was Molly most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Molly Lai?

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

Molly Lai — 85K & 19K bearers

Molly Lai is a name that combines English origins. 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 Lai: Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua. 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: Lai

Vietnamese

Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua.

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 Lai

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 Lai:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

7

Soul Urge Number

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

2

Personality Number

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

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 Lai?: The surname Lai originates from Vietnamese. Lai (traditional Chinese: 賴; simplified Chinese: 赖; pinyin: Lài) is a common Chinese surname that is pronounced similarly in both Mandarin, Hakka dialect and also in the Vietnamese language. The meaning of the character used in the Lai (賴) surname is "depend on; trust in; rely on". It is also a Hokkien (Southern Fujian)/ Minnan (Southern Min) surname that is romanized as Lua, Nai or Nua.
What are the origins of the name Molly Lai?: The name Molly Lai combines two different traditions: the first name Molly has English roots, while the surname Lai originates from Vietnamese.