what is Molly short for, if anything?

[BeautifulStars93]

We like Molly (opinions please)
Also does it have a long version or is not short for anything?

[Fridgedooropen]

It's traditionally a nickname for
Mary, but has now became a name given in its own right. I quite like it.

[ooerrmissus]

Love Molly, I was always under the impression it is short for Margaret, but I'd use it in its own.

[AvaCrowder]

It's a nickname for Mary.

[User543212345]

Milly Molly Mandy shows age was Millicent Margaret Amanda, so from that I'd go with Margaret.

[FunkyPeacock]

Historically it was a nn for Mary or Margaret but I think these days it is perfectly acceptable to put Molly/Mollie on the birth certificate if that is your preference

[AllPizzasGreatAndSmall]

I always thought it was a diminutive for Margaret.

[Timeandtune]

I thought it was a nickname for Maureen but I can see now that I am probably mistaken!

[reuset]

It's from Mary traditionally.
You get Mall (an old nick name) from Mary, that, in turn, becomes Moll, then Molly. Mally used to be used independently too, and before Molly, obviously, but I don't know if anybody uses it nowadays, though I'd be interested to.

[villainousbroodmare]

Mary to Molly (to Polly to Poll)

[Degustibusnonestdisputandem]

My granny was always known as Molly, and her name was Ethel Mary.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

It's a form of Mary. I have a Molly. She is just Molly though. It isn't short for anything.

[RiverTam]

Margaret.

[Sophronia]

Mary

[reuset]

I'm surprised at Joyce Lankester Brisley. Molly is not short, or known as being short for Margaret. I briefly explained the progression from Mary to Mall, Mally, to Molly. Mary also gives rise to surnames Malleson, Mollison etc

Margaret is great though, and the list of short forms, and connected names, it produced is immense

[drudgetrudy]

I always thought it was Peggy for Margaret and Molly or Polly for Mary.

[RiverTam]

I think it's been an accepted short for Margaret for quite a while, even if that's not its origin - I've read a number of books written in the 1920s and 30s with Mollys in them and it's always been short for Margaret.

[reuset]

Which books?

It's not really an accepted short form, any source or dictionary worth its salt will tell you it's from Mary (just as the Moll and Mall surnames are from Mary). Though of course, it begins with 'm' like Margaret, and you can choose whatever you like as a short form nowadays.

[RiverTam]

Milly Molly Mandy
Chalet school books
To name but 2.
My mum is a 30s woman with many friends called Margaret, and afaik she also regards it as a short for Margaret.

[reuset]

Yes, drudge. Also from Margaret, some old and no longer used:

gretel, gretchen, margot, magge, magot, madge, meg, mog, rita, greta, maisie, maggie, mysie, mergret, meggot, poggy, pog, peg, peggy.
Punning nick names: Daisy and Pearl

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

Monica

[RiverTam]

Why is Daisy a punning nn? Isn't it after the marguerite daisy?

[reuset]

It's a traditional punning nick name for Margaret, and Pearl relates to the meaning. And as we're quoting children's books I give you Meg from Little Women, who was also sometimes Daisy, and her daughter, Margaret, who was always Daisy. Marguerite is the French version of Margaret.

[reuset]

I don't remember Chalet School Mollie being short for margaret. I remember a Peggy, Margot and somebody else though.

It's not correct though, regardless. I'd like to know Joyce Brisley's reasoning for using. I suppose Milly Maggie Mandy doesn't have quite the same ring

[RiverTam]

I don't understand your use of 'punning'?

You seem very reluctant to accept that, 'rightly' or 'wrongly', Molly is used by many people as a nn for Margaret. It's a nn, ffs, surely people can use what they like!

[reuset]

One of the old Oxford dictionaries uses the very term 'punning' under the name Daisy. What don't you understand exactly? I've explained how they're connected for you already, but... I'm always happy to help.

Molly is used by many people as a nn for Margaret.

I love anecdata You mentioned a Joyce Lankester Brisley book...