The name Jolly is of English origin and it is considered to be a surname rather than a given name. It is derived from the Old French word "joli," which means "handsome" or "pretty." The name was originally used as a nickname for someone who was considered good-looking or attractive.
The history of the name Jolly can be traced back to medieval England, where it was often used as a surname. It is believed that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over time, the name became established as a family name and was passed down through generations.
Today, Jolly is still primarily a surname, but it has also been used occasionally as a given name. It is considered to be a unique and distinctive name that stands out from more common names. Despite its rarity as a given name, Jolly has gained some popularity in recent years, particularly among parents looking for unusual and memorable baby names.
Overall, the name Jolly is of English origin and means "handsome" or "pretty." It was originally used as a nickname for someone who was considered attractive, but it eventually became established as a surname. While it is still primarily a surname today, Jolly has been occasionally used as a given name in recent years.
The name Jolly has been given to babies in the United States for over nine decades, with the first recorded birth occurring in 1926. Since then, there have been a total of 119 births nationwide.
The year with the most births was 1937, with 11 newborns named Jolly. The years following had fewer births: 6 in 1938 and 5 in 1943. However, the popularity of the name seemed to pick up again in the mid-20th century, with several years experiencing 6 or more births.
Interestingly, there was a gap of nearly four decades between the last birth recorded in 1985 (with 5 newborns) and the next one in 2007 (also with 6 newborns). The most recent year with a Jolly birth was in 2022, indicating that this name is still being chosen by parents today.
While not as common as many other names, Jolly has maintained a steady presence in the United States, with at least one birth recorded in every decade from the 1920s to the 2020s. This demonstrates that even less common names can have enduring appeal over time.