Polli
A feminine diminutive form of the Greek name Paulina, derived from Paul.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Polli. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Polli today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Polli births was 1970 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Polli. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Polli. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1970
8 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
1970 SSA rank
#6,208
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Polli: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Polli from the 1950s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 8 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Polli 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 Polli during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Polli
The name Polli is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was widely spoken in ancient India. It is thought to be derived from the word "pallava," which means "tender leaf" or "sprout." The name likely emerged during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
Polli is a diminutive form of the name Pallava, and it was initially used as a nickname or pet name for children. The name's association with new growth and tender leaves may have been seen as a symbol of innocence, freshness, and potential.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, there are references to characters bearing names related to "pallava," suggesting that the name had cultural significance and was in use during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Polli can be found in the writings of the renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet Kalidasa, who lived around the 4th or 5th century CE. In his epic poem "Kumarasambhava," he mentions a character named Polli, who is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Polli:
1. Polli Devi (c. 1400s) - A Bengali poet and mystic who is considered one of the pioneers of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement in Bengal.
2. Polli Kunjan (c. 1600s) - An Indian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of calculus and planetary motion.
3. Polli Reddy (1786-1846) - A prominent Indian freedom fighter and leader of the Poligars, a group of rebellious chieftains who resisted British rule in southern India.
4. Polli Seshayya (1863-1935) - A renowned Indian social reformer and advocate for women's education, who established several schools and colleges in the Telugu-speaking regions of India.
5. Polli Ramaiah (1890-1972) - An influential Telugu writer and poet, known for his works that explored themes of social justice and human rights.
While the name Polli may have originated in ancient India, it has since spread to other parts of the world, possibly through migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Polli + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Polli as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Polli: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Polli?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Polli 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Polli a common name?
We classify Polli as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Polli most popular?
The single biggest year for Polli was 1970, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Polli is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Polli a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Polli 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.