Declining since 2013, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Molli since 1950
Babies named Molli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 33 |
| 1960s | 68 |
| 1970s | 154 |
| 1980s | 267 |
| 1990s | 511 |
| 2000s | 505 |
| 2010s | 376 |
| 2020s | 75 |
Meaning & origin
Molli is a modern respelling of the traditional Molly, which has been a steady if unflashy presence in American baby names. The standard Molly peaked at rank 52 in 2000 and has since declined, while the Molli variant has remained relatively rare. According to Social Security data, Molli first appeared in records in 1950 and reached its highest rank of 10,107 in 2025, with a 1-in-178,585 occurrence rate. Its peak year for usage was 2014, after which the name has been on a falling trajectory. Molli has never cracked the national top 1,000, and its quiet profile makes it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a familiar sound with a fresh spelling.
Molli is a modern spelling variant of Molly, which originated as a medieval English diminutive of Mary. Mary itself derives from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is debated but often interpreted as 'beloved' or 'rebellious.' While Molly has been in use since the 18th century, the Molli spelling emerged more recently, reflecting a trend toward distinctive phonetic spellings.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mol, Molls, LiLi
Sibling names for Molli
Names that share Molli's style, for a brother or sister.
