Dolly is a distinctive girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #681 in 2011 with 57 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2015 with 194 births ranking #258. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 714.3%. In 2011, approximately 1 in every 5,637 girls born was named Dolly. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Dolly is a bright, vintage nickname-style name with lots of personality. It usually inherits the meaning of Dorothy, gift of God, though modern perception is also shaped by the word doll.
The name has long existed as a nickname and now feels distinctly retro and affectionate. Its cultural and emotional associations are at least as important as the original root.