Molli
A feminine diminutive of Mary, a name derived from the Hebrew meaning "bitter".
Name Census estimates that about 1,901 living Americans carry the first name Molli. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Molli today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Molli births was 2014 (63 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Molli. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.9K
~ 1 in 180,302 Americans
Peak year
2014
63 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,456
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Molli: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Molli from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 511 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Molli by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Molli during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mollis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. Texas, Ohio, California recorded the most babies named Molli, while Tennessee, New York, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Molli
The name Molli is believed to have originated as a diminutive form of the Old German name Amalia, which means "work" or "industrious." The name Amalia itself is derived from the Germanic element "amal," meaning "work" or "labor." The diminutive form "Molli" likely emerged as a nickname or shortened version of Amalia in certain regions of Germany and surrounding areas during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Molli can be found in the writings of the German poet and playwright Hans Sachs, who lived from 1494 to 1576. In his plays and poems, Sachs often used the name Molli as a character, typically portraying her as a hardworking and diligent woman, reflecting the name's etymological roots.
Another notable historical figure named Molli was Molli Kringelein, a German merchant and philanthropist who lived in the 16th century. Kringelein was known for her generosity and donated a significant portion of her wealth to various charitable causes, particularly those aimed at helping the poor and underprivileged.
In the 18th century, Molli Frölich, a German painter and engraver, gained recognition for her intricate and detailed works of art. Her paintings often depicted scenes from everyday life, capturing the essence of her time with remarkable attention to detail.
During the 19th century, Molli Wiegand, a German author and poet, made a name for herself with her poignant and evocative writings. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, resonating with readers across Germany and beyond.
Another notable figure named Molli was Molli von Laubach, a German philosopher and scholar who lived in the early 20th century. Von Laubach was a prominent figure in the field of ethics and moral philosophy, contributing significantly to the academic discourse of her time.
While the name Molli has its roots in German culture and language, it has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, the core meaning of the name, derived from its Old German origins, remains closely tied to the ideas of hard work, diligence, and industriousness.
People
Molli + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Molli as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Molli: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Molli?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,901 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Molli going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 180,302 US residents.
Is Molli a common name?
We classify Molli as "Rare". It ranks above 93.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,980 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Molli most popular?
The single biggest year for Molli was 2014, when 63 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Molli is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Molli a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Molli in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.