Unisex · #5,059 in 2026

Jolly

Happiness is a complex and multifaceted mental state that encompasses a range of positive feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in enjoyable activities. However, happiness can also arise spontaneously, without any apparent external cause.

Current Rank
#5,059
Peak Rank
#1,932 (1934)
Total Babies
348
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #2,570 (119 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,932 (348 total)
👦As Boy Name
1891
First Year
1978
Last Year
1934
Peak Year
#1932
Peak Rank
348
Total Count
48
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1926
First Year
2022
Last Year
1937
Peak Year
#2570
Peak Rank
119
Total Count
19
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Jolly

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Happiness is a complex and multifaceted mental state that encompasses a range of positive feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in enjoyable activities. However, happiness can also arise spontaneously, without any apparent external cause.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Jolly

As a girl name

Jolly first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1926, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1937, when 11 Jollys were born — ranking #2,570 that year. As of 2026, Jolly ranks #15,292 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 119 Jollys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Jolly first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1891, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1934, when 14 Jollys were born — ranking #1,932 that year. As of 2026, Jolly ranks #5,059 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 348 Jollys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Jolly

Phonetically similar names — useful when Jolly 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 Jolly

What does the name Jolly mean?
Happiness is a complex and multifaceted mental state that encompasses a range of positive feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in enjoyable activities. However, happiness can also arise spontaneously, without any apparent external cause.
How popular is Jolly in 2026?
In 2026, Jolly ranks #5,059 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Jolly most popular?
Jolly reached its peak popularity in 1934, ranking #1,932 that year with 14 babies given the name.
Is Jolly a unisex name?
Yes — Jolly is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 25% of Jollys assigned female and 75% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Jolly?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Jolly include Mell, Berkeley, Marice. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Jolly

Jolly is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1891 and has accumulated 348 births in the dataset. Jolly's peak popularity came in 1934 when it ranked #1,932. Use the chart and map above to compare Jolly's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.