Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1891. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Jolly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 467
- 348 boys · 119 girls
- Most popular year
- 1937
- 21 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2022. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 11 in 1937. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,205 as a first name in 2020; 15,025 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.
Jolly’s family of names
In English usage, Jolly as a surname has a related form in JOLLIFFE.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Jolly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jacky
“God is gracious” · “the supplanter”
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Lowell
“resembling a young wolf”
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Jean
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Laurent
“a graceful woman”
90% boys · 10% girls
Lonnie
“prepared for battle; eager and ready” · “having the strength of a lion”
86% boys · 14% girls
Seraphin
Seraphin is a surname from French, ultimately from Latin.
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Vernet
Vernet is a surname from French. It is used in English and French.
52% boys · 48% girls
Veron
Veron is a surname from French, ultimately from Spanish.
99% boys · 1% girls