Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Feedback on Molly please

40 replies

MrsSleepyhead · 19/10/2010 13:35

DC2 due in a couple of weeks. We have a couple of possible names for a girl but nothing that we are completely in love with.

At the moment the top runner is Molly, but I'm slightly put off by its meaning, 'Sea of bitterness'. I'm also not overly keen on abbreviated names - but is Molly established enough now as a name in its own right, rather than just a nickname for 'Mary'?

The other possibility is Lily but the huge popularity of this does worry me (not that popularity is a deal breaker, DD is 'Ella' which we loved from day one).

Any thoughts, feedback or other suggestions would be most welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
NiceCuppaT · 20/10/2010 04:52

Another meaning is 'star of the seas'!

Sunlightdances · 19/10/2010 20:30

As you are looking for opinions... I really hate it. I find it twee and rather blah; it has no substance.

I adore Lily.

discobeaver · 19/10/2010 19:47

My parents have a dog called Molly, a proper bug eyed little thing. It's one of the most popular dog'snames in the U.K

Makes me think of Milly Molly Mandy.

NothereisnobodylurkingbehindU · 19/10/2010 19:45

I prefer Molly to Lily but I like Polly better than both of them!

BudaisintheZONE · 19/10/2010 19:45

Love it.

LOL at people calling their dog Molly though! I have a friend with a DD called Molly and we were getting a puppy this summer and Molly was on my list. I texted my friend to ask if she would be offended and she replied that when she was growing up her parents had a dog called Molly and she called her DD after her!

Hulababy · 19/10/2010 19:44

My DD is Mollie, she's 8y. I love the name.

We know of one adult called Mollie - so for me it works v well on older people too.

As for popularity - there is no other Molly/Mollie in DD's school of 90 girls. There is no Molly/Mollie in the infants I work at - approx 135 girls. None of our family or friends have a Molly/Mollie.
We have met a handful when out and about.

Mollie has been a name in its own right for many many years.

EleanorHauntedHandbasket · 19/10/2010 19:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

stressheaderic · 19/10/2010 19:41

4 Mollys in my baby massage group of 15 this year. . . tis fast becoming the new Lily/Ruby (round here anyway)

HighlandlassinLondonshire · 19/10/2010 14:46

I really love the name Molly, however my father called his dog Molly so that's that really....! Very annoying.

YorkshireTeaDrinker · 19/10/2010 14:07

Molly is lovely. It is origionally a short for Margaret, but there are so many diminutives of Margaret that are names in their own right now.

Rycie · 19/10/2010 13:43

I love Molly, was on my list originally, DH vetoed sadly.

dilbertina · 19/10/2010 13:42

My dd2 is a Molly. She is the most smiley cheerful little girl - no apparent bitterness yet (although only 18mo so time yet!).

It doesn't seem all that clear what the origins are, but as well as "sea of bitterness" it can also mean "wished for child" - I go with that one!

No-one has ever asked if Molly is short for anything and her name is generally remarked upon positively...and we've not met another one yet. HTH!

chickentwizzler · 19/10/2010 13:41

Love love love it. Much prefer Molly to Lily. It is a name in its own right. I wouldnt give a second thought to the meaning.

RockBat · 19/10/2010 13:39

I think Molly is fine on its own. I have a mad second cousin Molly so it kind of colours it for me :o

Ella and Molly flows better than Ella and Lily although I slightly prefer Lily.

All lovely names though :)

CharlieBoo · 19/10/2010 13:38

My ds was going to be Molly 6 years ago if he was a girl....I love it, much nicer than Lily and not as popular.

Go for it and good luck