Holy
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects, or places.
Meaning & Origin of Holy
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects, or places.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Holy
As a girl name
American parents first put Holy on the record books as a girl name in 1975, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 15 Holys were born — ranking #7,636 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 46% of all recorded Holys. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (9 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 166 Holys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Holy as a boy name dates back to 2015, when 5 babies received it. 2018 was its biggest year on record, with 10 newborns named Holy — #7,613 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 68% of all recorded Holys. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (7 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 22 Holys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Holy
Phonetically similar names — useful when Holy is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holy
What does the name Holy mean?
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About the name Holy
Holy is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 166 births in the dataset. Holy's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #7,636. Use the chart and map above to compare Holy's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "H" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.