Given name & surname
Holy
“one who is pious or sacred”
Holy is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “one who is pious or sacred.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “one who is pious or sacred.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Holy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 198
- 22 boys · 176 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 22 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #9,704 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −18%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 9,704 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 16.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 15 in 2014. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 384 as a first name in 2020; 858 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Holy’s family of names
Holy has a related form in Holea. Holy has a related form in Holeah. Holy has a related form in Holee.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Holy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Khali
“a lively woman”
22% boys · 78% girls
Heart
“one who is romantic”
>99% girls
Emberli
“a pretty young woman”
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Honesty
“one who is truthful and trustworthy”
>99% girls
Holyn
“a fresh-faced woman”
>99% girls
Halyn
“a unique young woman”
>99% girls
Savvy
“smart and perceptive woman”
>99% girls
Enslie
“an emotional woman”
>99% girls