In This Article
- Origin, Meaning, And History Of Holly
- How To Pronounce Holly?
- Phonemic Representation Of Holly
- Notable People Named Holly
- Holly On MomJunction Popularity Chart
- Holly Name's Presence On Social Media
- Holly’s Mention In Fictional Works
- Names With Similar Sound As Holly
- Popular Sibling Names For Holly
- Other Popular Names Beginning With H
- Names With Similar Meaning As Holly
- Names Rhyming With Holly
- Popular Songs On The Name Holly
- Acrostic Poem On Holly
- ‘Holly’ In QR Code
- Adorable Nicknames For Holly
- Holly’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
- Holly’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
- Infographic: Know The Name Holly's Personality As Per Numerology
- Holly In Different Languages
- Holly In Fancy Fonts
- Adorable ‘Holly’ Wallpapers To Share
- How To Communicate The Name Holly In Sign Languages
- Name Numerology For Holly
- Baby Name Lists Containing Holly
- Movie Titles Inspired By The Name Holly
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Look Up For Many More Names
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Holly
The feminine name Holly refers to the Holly Tree with red berries and is derived from “holen,” an Old English word. It may also be from the French word “houx,” meaning ‘shrub.’ The houx is an evergreen tree with red berries and prickly leaves. The Irish also used it as a translation of the name Mac Cuilinn, which derives from cuileann, the Gaelic name of the holly tree.
Holly is also a toponymic surname originating from the industrious people of the county of Flanders. It was given to people residing near areas with hills, streams, churches, or certain types of trees. Another meaning associated with the name is “dwelling by the hollow.” The name Holly is often given to baby girls born in December, as customarily, the holly tree’s distinctive leaves and red berries are used in Christmas decorations.
The ancient Celts began the tradition of decorating homes with Holly, believing the bright decorations would bring them good luck. The name Holly first appeared as a feminine name in the 20th century. In the US it was first used in the 1930s and is believed to have been popularized by Holly Golightly, a character in the novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote. It was later adapted into a movie in 1961. Thus Holley became more popular in the US in the latter part of the 1900s.
The name Holly has several variations, including Hollie, Holli, Hollee, Holleigh, Hollis, Hollyann, and Holley. Hol, Holls, Holl, Holly Bear, and Holly Berry are some nicknames associated with the name Holly. Masculine variants of the name Holly include Hollis in English, Holic in Czech, and Holleb in Polish.
There are several references to the name in the fictional world. For example, Holly Flax is the HR representative and a character in The Office. Other characters by the name are Holly Holliday, the substitute teacher from Glee, and Holly Robinson, a supporting character of Catwoman in DC Comics .
How To Pronounce Holly?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Holly in English.
Phonemic Representation Of Holly
Phonemics is the study of a language’s distinctive sound units (phonemes), as standardized by the International Phonetics Association. When choosing a name for your baby, knowing its phonemic pronunciation gives an idea about the name’s sound pattern and auditory appeal. You can assess the name’s ease of pronunciation, memorability, and softness. Here is the phonemic transcription of Holly in American and British accents.
- In American English: /ˈhɑːli/
- In British English: /ˈhɒli/
Pronunciation of names, in fact, any spoken word, involves the participation of various parts of the mouth, vocal cord, nose, and lungs. Underneath all the sounds we make is the airstream flowing from the lungs and moving up to the mouth. It’s incredible how lips, tongue, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, glottis, and larynx work harmoniously to bring out the words. Studies have proved that positive sounds like OM (AUM) help maintain hormonal balance and mental health and reduce stress and anxiety. So, what parts does Holly trigger? Find the details here; the sound of Holly might bring in more positive vibes into your life!
Phoneme | Articulation |
---|---|
/h/ | Opening glottis. Severely obstructs the airflow and causes friction |
/ɑː/ | Tongue low back, open mouth. Airflow is continuous |
/l/ | Raising the tongue tip while keeping the rest of the tongue down. Causes some obstruction of the airstream in the mouth |
/i/ | Tongue high front, spread lips. Airflow is continuous |
Notable People Named Holly
This section covers people who have made the name Holly famous with their contributions in various fields. It indeed is a little more inspiration for you to choose the name for your baby, don’t you think?
- Holly HunterActress and producer
- Holly MadisonTelevision personality and model
- Holly Marie CombsActress and producer
- Holly Robinson PeeteAmerican actress and singer
- Holly WilloughbyTelevision presenter, model and author
- Holley FainAmerican actress, famous as Dr. Julia Canner from Grey's Anatomy, and Maureen van der Bilt from Gossip Girl
- Holly RothAmerican crime writer in the genres of detective fiction and spy fiction, with twelve novels and many short stories to her name, along with an Edgar Award nomination
Holly On MomJunction Popularity Chart
Know how popular the name Holly is among the MomJunction readers. We used a unique approach to gather relevant insights for creating this popularity chart by observing the interactions and interest around the name on our platform. See what the trend has been among our readers over these past years.
Holly Name’s Presence On Social Media
Before you finalize your baby’s name, you would want to assess if the name is rare or popular. Digital footprint of the name - it’s presence on the internet and social media platforms - can provide you with valuable insights on it’s popularity. A name’s online presence is an important metric for new parents to evaluate their options and make an informed choice. How many people are searching the name on Google, how many profiles are there on Facebook, does the name have a Wikipedia page? Such information surely tells you if the name is ubiquitous or unique. Here is how Holly fares on that count.
Holly’s Mention In Fictional Works
In this section, know how the creative minds have treated the name Holly in their fictional works. How often has the name been woven into the storylines, and how popular was the character – these details may not directly influence your naming decision, but you would like to know about Holly’s performance in the world of entertainment, won’t you? Moreover, it could be the name of the character from a movie or series you loved or binge-watched recently! So, check out Holly’s performance in the fictional cosmos.
Title | Character name | Role played by |
---|---|---|
Forget You | Holly | Tracy Peyton |
Half & Half | Holly Barnes | Anarosa Butler |
Divided | Holly | Leslie Koch Foumberg |
Deadly Tales IV | Cheryl Holly | Karen Black |
Mike | Holly | Marilyn Carter |
Disfingered | Holly | Nicole De Larzac |
Artificially Speaking | Holly Hockenberry | Karen Rambo |
Lost in the Moment | Holly | Céline Planata |
Mini Pet Pals | Holly | Monica Ward |
F*ck You, Seth | Holly | Holly Curran |
Names With Similar Sound As Holly
Holly is a name with a pleasant sound. If you want to explore more names with a similar ring, have a look at the list below.
Popular Sibling Names For Holly
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Holly, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Holly
Find matching brother names for Holly and create a wonderful team of siblings.
Haele Hailen Halbert Halburt Hale Halebeorht Haligwiella Halin Hallam HalleyGirl Sibling Names For Holly
Looking for some suitable sister names for Holly? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
Haelee Haeley Haely Haila Haileigh Hailey Hailie Haisley Halee HaleighOther Popular Names Beginning With H
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter H to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Holly
Listed below are a variety of delightful names that share a similar essence as Holly.
Names Rhyming With Holly
The significance of rhyming names extends beyond their aesthetic appeal and a good feel. The repetition and symmetry enhance their memorability. If you want your children’s names to be easily remembered or tune with your name, try some rhyming names. Here are such names that rhyme with Holly.
Popular Songs On The Name Holly
Acrostic Poem On Holly
Dive into the lyrical charm of the name Holly with this acrostic poem. Witness how each letter paints together a story, capturing the name’s individuality, strength, vitality, and sophistication. Inspiring, is it? Why not try a similar poem that describes what you think of your baby’s personality?
Happiest of hearts with the sweetest smile.
Original but not an oddball, an open-minded soul.
Lively spirit bursting with vivacity and zest for life.
Lighthearted and loyal, you sure deserve all things royal.
Yearning for life, a youthful essence that stays forever vibrant.
‘Holly’ In QR Code
Here's a unique feature for the modern, tech-savvy, and curious parents – have your baby's name in a QR code. If you want your close circle to know your newborn's name, all you need to do is simply scan and share it. The code not only shows the name but its meaning as well; this means you don't have to painfully explain the meaning of your baby's name anymore! So, go ahead. Download, save, and share it with your family and friends, or use it to create personalized keepsakes for your little one.
Adorable Nicknames For Holly
Nicknames are an integral part of your communication with your baby. You tend to use several variations of your child’s name; some are meaningful, while others are simply adorable sounds. Here are a few nicknames you can begin with for the name Holly.
- Hol
- Holls
- Hollybear
- Holster
- Hols
Holly’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
Western astrology includes the construction of a horoscope based on the person’s exact time of birth and location to understand the positions of the planet, stars, and zodiac signs at that time. However, in popular culture, it is often narrowed down to the sun sign, which depends on the person’s birth date.There are 12 zodiac signs, each having dominant traits, planetary rulers, elemental connection, and more.
Zodiac sign or Sun sign
The Earth’s orbit around the sun is divided into 12 zodiac signs covering 30-degree sectors. According to Western astrology, the zodiac or sun sign depends on the sun’s position in one of these sectors at the time of your birth. Starting from the sun’s position at the March equinox, the chart goes anti-clockwise from Aries, followed by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These signs are ruled by planetary bodies - Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Furthermore, they are categorized into triplicities or elemental signs - fire, water, air, and earth - that govern their characteristics. Each of these zodiac signs features certain personality traits that may determine how a person presents themselves.
Why the date of birth matters
Each zodiac sign in Western astrology is linked to a specific range of dates in the year. Unlike Vedic astrology, where names can sometimes be used to infer astrological details, Western astrology relies entirely on the birth date.
To know more about your baby’s zodiac sign, choose the period in which your baby’s date of birth falls, from the options given below. This will give you a glimpse into the world of astrology tailored for your baby.
Select your baby’s birthdate range
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Apr 20 – May 20
May 21 – Jun 20
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Feb 19 – Mar 20
Holly’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name Holly. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
Rashi (zodiac sign) | Karka (Cancer) |
---|---|
Starting letters for Karka (Cancer) rashi | DD, H |
Representation | Crab |
Element | Water |
Ruling body | Moon |
Quality | Movable |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Karka (Cancer) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
---|---|---|---|
Punarvasu (Punartham, Punarpoosam) | Cancer (0 to 3.20 degrees) | Jupiter | Ke, Kay, Ko, Ha, Hi, Hee |
Pushya (Pooyam, Pushyami) | Cancer (3.20 to 16.40 degrees) | Saturn | Hu, He, Ho, Da |
Aslesha (Aayilyam) | Cancer (16.40 to 30 degrees) | Mercury | Di, Du, De, Do, Dee, Me, Da |
Infographic: Know The Name Holly‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Holly In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell Holly in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying Holly, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
Name | Language | Code |
---|---|---|
Holly | English | en |
冬青 | Chinese | zh-CN |
होली | Hindi | hi |
Holly | Spanish | es |
Holly | French | fr |
هولي | Arabic | ar |
হলি | Bengali | bn |
Holly | Portuguese | pt |
Холли | Russian | ru |
ہولی | Urdu | ur |
Holly | Indonesian | id |
Holly | German | de |
ヒイラギ | Japanese | ja |
होली | Marathi | mr |
హోలీ | Telugu | te |
Holly | Turkish | tr |
ஹோலி | Tamil | ta |
Holly | Vietnamese | vi |
Holly | Tagalog | tl |
홀리 | Korean | ko |
Holly | Hausa | ha |
Holly | Swahili | sw |
Holly | Javanese | jv |
Holly | Italian | it |
ਹੋਲੀ | Punjabi | pa |
હોલી | Gujarati | gu |
ฮอลลี่ | Thai | th |
ಹಾಲಿ | Kannada | kn |
ሆሊ | Amharic | am |
होली | Bhojpuri | bho |
Holly | Yoruba | yo |
Holly In Fancy Fonts
Visualize your little one’s name in different captivating fonts. You can use these fancy styles on birth announcement cards, nursery decorations, personalized gifts, to name a few. Select the perfect font from these options for a touch of personalization.
- Double Struck Fontℍ 𝕠 𝕝 𝕝 𝕪
- Bold Script Font𝓗 𝓸 𝓵 𝓵 𝔂
- Fancy Style 35 Fonth ⊕ レ レ ψ
- Fancy Style 7 FontĦ Ø Ł Ł ¥
- Love FontH♥ o♥ l♥ l♥ y♥
- Black Square Font🅷 🅾 🅻 🅻 🆈
- Hand Writing 2 FontH σ ʅ ʅ ყ
- X Above Bellow FontH͓̽ o͓̽ l͓̽ l͓̽ y͓̽
Liked our fancy fonts for Holly? Why not go a step forward with these beautiful posters? They are perfect to download and use as display pictures or social media posts! You may also use them as part of decorating your child’s room. These personalized wallpapers celebrate the positive vibes of the name, offering a unique way to show how much this name means to you. What’s more! You have multiple options here to choose depending on your mood or occasion.
Holly 3D Wallpaper
Holly Birthday Wallpaper
‘I Love Holly’ Wallpaper
Stylish Holly Wallpaper
Holly Name Initial Wallpaper
How To Communicate The Name Holly In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
Holly
In Sign Language
Holly
In Braille Alphabet
Holly
In Morse Code
Holly
In Barcode
In Binary
01001000 01101111 01101100 01101100 01111001
Name Numerology For Holly
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name Holly, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
Baby Name Lists Containing Holly
Read through our baby name lists that include the name Holly and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
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Movie Titles Inspired By The Name Holly
Discover the presence of Holly in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
---|---|---|
Holly | Девственность Холли, Холли | 2023 |
The Holly | 2022 | |
Holly Slept Over | Entre amigos, Holly bekavar, Im Bett mit Holly, Nocka u Holly, Qué pasa cuando eres adulto, Um Fim De Semana Com Holly, Холли остается ночевать, 荷莉過夜日記 | 2020 |
Holly Day | 2018 | |
Holly Near: Singing For Our Lives | Holly Near: Singing for Our Lives | 2018 |
Holly Star | Blago za Božić, Ein Schatz zu Weihnachten, Tesouros de Família, Un Trésor pour Noël | 2018 |
Holly Does Hollywood 4 | 1991 | |
Holly Does Hollywood Again | Holly Does Hollywood 2, Holly rumbo a Hollywood de nuevo | 1987 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Holly?
The name Holly means ‘Holly tree with red berries.’
2. What is the origin of the name Holly?
Holly has an English and French origin.
3. Is Holly a popular name?
According to the SSA popularity data, the name Holly rose seven ranks higher to 459 in 2022 from rank 466 in 2021. The name has been within the top 500 names in the US, which means Holly is a popular name in the US (1).
4. What is a nickname for Holly?
Parents may choose any nickname for their child based on their personal preferences. If you are looking for a nickname for Holly, you can consider Holz, Holls, Hollyberry, Hollypop, Hollykins, Hollybear, and Hollsicle.
5. Is Holly an old name?
Holly may have been around for centuries as a word referring to the Holly tree with red and black fruits and as a toponymic surname for people inhabiting areas of hills, streams, and specific trees. However, as a girl’s name, it is believed to have been used since the 20th century.
References
- Names that increased in popularity from 2021 to 2022;
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/popularity_increase.html - Holly (N.)
https://www.etymonline.com/word/holly - Holly (name)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_(name) - Astrology, Hermes (2023); Astrology for Beginners.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370635414_Astrology_for_Beginners - Shirley Lawrence; The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters.
https://www.academia.edu/97492675/The_Secret_Science_of_Numerology_The_Hidden_Meaning_of_Numbers_and_Letters_Shirley_Lawrence&nav_from=a3c5c3fd-555f-4584-b66d-4a3c8023402e&rw_pos=0 - Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia; “zodiac”; Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac - P.V.R. Narasimha Rao; Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach.
https://www.vedicastrologer.org/articles/vedic_astro_textbook.pdf - Paulo Martins; A Concise History of Hindu Astrology and Indian Spirituality; Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
https://www.saspublishers.com/media/articles/SJAHSS_112_33-36_FT_MAEgJAB.pdf - International Phonetic Association.
https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/ - Adam Szczegielniak; Phonetics: The Sounds of Language; Harvard University.
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/adam/files/phonetics.ppt.pdf - Lalita K. Wani et al; Review of Scientific Analysis Of Sacred Sound OM (AUM); Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), Novermber 2020.
https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011207.pdf
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.