Dolly is a moderately popular girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #318 in 2021 with 148 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2015 with 194 births ranking #258. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 2,014.3%. In 2021, approximately 1 in every 1,852 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.