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Baby names

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

Original poster

Molly

31 replies

Bubblesoup · 10/06/2018 07:56

Would you describe Molly as being a classic name, like Leah and Beth and Kate; or as a more modern/cute name like Poppy and .. I can't think of any others! ConfusedGrin

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ZebraKid71 · 10/06/2018 17:10

It's lovely, I like it as a nick name. Though the number of dogs I kbow named Molly would definitely put me off!

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 10/06/2018 15:26

My dd is Molly. It suits her to a T and she's got it written all over her face. However I wish I'd have gave it more thought now.
I agree it's got a twist of vintage and modern.

shirleyschmidt · 10/06/2018 13:55

I agree Molly probably is 'classic', but it doesn't sound as formal as Charlotte/Catherine etc, and that's why it doesn't 'go' with names like that. It fits more with the likes of Lily/Daisy/Maisie/Nelly/Pollyanna, which sound more cutesy.^^
So I'd say it depends which of the classic categories your other DCs names fall into, in terms of cute vs formal!
I love Molly, think it's a classic name and works on babies and adults.

SingingGoldfinch · 10/06/2018 13:39

Awww Bubbles - don't let all the negative comments put you off. I know I'm biased as I have a Molly but I think it's a lovely, name. Classic but with a modern feel. My Molly is tall, elegant and clever and bears no resemblance whatsoever to a dumpy pug-like Victorian washer-woman!! Each to their own I say!!

Original poster
Bubblesoup · 10/06/2018 09:40

Thanks all. I think you've persuaded me to forget Molly! Back to the drawing board for me!

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LeeMiller · 10/06/2018 09:21

Molly Bloom, not boom, oops. I always associate it with Ireland because of that and 'Sweet Molly Malone'. I think it could be a nice diminutive for lots of more traditional M names, but isn't classic in its stand alone form.

Mountainsoutofmolehills · 10/06/2018 09:17

It is the name of a victorian washer woman in rags, or some fat little child born in 2010. It's an awful patronising name. Go for something elegant.

SingingGoldfinch · 10/06/2018 09:15

Charming Villain! I can assure you my Molly is tall and slim and in no way like a dumpy pug!

SingingGoldfinch · 10/06/2018 09:14

Yes - not just Mary - Margaret too - and Muriel in the case of my grandmother-in-law (but then with a name like Muriel....)

villainousbroodmare · 10/06/2018 09:14

It always reminds me of a dumpy plumpy plain creature like a pug.

LeeMiller · 10/06/2018 09:11

Molly Boom (Ulysses) is Marion, the Molly in Milly-Molly-Mandy was for Margaret.

UrsulaPandress · 10/06/2018 08:43

Molly is a derivative of Mary.

SingingGoldfinch · 10/06/2018 08:40

My dd is Molly. She is named after Dh's grandmother who was called Muriel (!?) but known to everyone as Molly. I think that's the difference - it was always a diminutive but now people use it as a given name. We love it and dd loves it - she's 12 and hasn't grown out of it yet! It's not overly popular either - she's always been the only Molly in her class and there's only one other in dd's year at large secondary school. There are way more Lucys, Olivias and Amelies

Original poster
Bubblesoup · 10/06/2018 08:37

But malfoyy, Leah is biblical.... so doesn't that make it classic?

Oh I didn't know it was a common name for pets!

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Nousernameforme · 10/06/2018 08:36

Dd 16 had 4 Molly's in her year at primary school. So it was quite a common name early 2000s. I thought it was a cute old lady name come round again

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/06/2018 08:35

Yes Polly is much better

JohnnyKarate · 10/06/2018 08:34

Molly Weasley does a fab job of pulling off molly!

Original poster
Bubblesoup · 10/06/2018 08:33

Gosh it's so interesting reading other peoples opinions! I'd say that classic names were names like Beth, Kate, Laura, Anna, Charlotte etc. But obviously other people think differently! Smile

I do wonder if Molly would be hard for an adult to carry off. Fine if she is a beauty, but if she becomes overweight and dumpy (like her mum, haha!) then Molly as a name might not help her! Confused

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FizzingWhizzbee · 10/06/2018 08:33

I wouldn't choose it, because practically every other cat or small dog you meet is called Molly. It's a shame because it is a lovely name.

JohnnyKarate · 10/06/2018 08:28

My friend loved Mollie but was worried that her DD might find it childish when she got older so named her Amelia. She's been Mollie since she was born as a nickname but now she's in school her bestfriend calls her Mia, some kids call her Mollie and her teacher calls her Amelia (she doesn't like nicknames). I don't know how it is not confusing for Mollie but she seems fine with it.

She wishes she had called her Polly now.

Flamingosnbears · 10/06/2018 08:26

I'd say molly was a classic name, it's been used in literature & films for years it's a good name that you can't really pin to a particular decade.

malfoyy · 10/06/2018 08:25

Leah is not a classic name!

RedDwarves · 10/06/2018 08:20

It's not as classic as Elizabeth, Alexandra, Catherine, Alice etc. but it is more classic than Poppy, Evie, Mia, Isla etc.

It's a sort of happy medium name, probably because it is traditionally a diminutive of a classic name. It falls in the same category as Sadie, Polly, Lily, Kate, Annie etc.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/06/2018 08:20

I find Molly a bit clunky and plain.

Charley50 · 10/06/2018 08:16

I like it for a child but not an adult.