What Does the Name Holly Mean?

Holly is a girl's name of English (botanical) origin meaning “the holly tree/plant.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Holly
Gender	female
Origin	English (botanical)
Meaning	the holly tree/plant
Variants	Hollie, Holli, Hollye
Popularity	Very popular in the UK and the US through the late 20th century; usage has eased but it remains familiar and classic.

The meaning and origin of Holly

The name Holly means “the holly tree/plant” and has English (botanical) origins. From the name of the holly plant, from Old English 'holegn,' long associated with Christmas. It is often given to girls born around the holiday season.

Variants and related names

Holly is related to several other names you may recognize: Hollie, Holli, Hollye. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Holly?

Very popular in the UK and the US through the late 20th century; usage has eased but it remains familiar and classic.

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