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Baby names

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Original poster

Dolly

34 replies

dandelion93 · 05/10/2018 17:40

I've just seen on the BBC name statistics that 170 baby girls in 2017 were named 'Dolly'.

I don't know how I feel about it but I'm definitely shocked that there was 100+ named it in one year.

What's everyone else's thoughts? Is it too twee?

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foxtiger · 08/10/2018 19:12

I think it sounds quite cute but it's not for everybody. I don't think I'd give it to a child as a full name.

LeeMiller · 07/10/2018 11:17

I know three elderly dolly/dolls, named Doreen, Doris and Dorothy.

I can't imagine introducing myself professionally as Dolly. It's worse other cutesy names, being doll-like isn't something to aspire to for me so it seems strange to name your child that as a full name.

Sunflower321 · 06/10/2018 10:50

Fine for a plastic doll! But not as a woman's name.

llangennith · 06/10/2018 10:21

I had three aunties named Dorothy, know as Auntie Dot, Auntie Doll and Auntie Dolly.

WeaselsRising · 06/10/2018 10:09

I had a great aunt who was always known as Dolly even though her real name was Edith. She was 80s to 90s when I knew her so to me it seems perfectly normal as an adult name. No more twee than Molly or Emma.

AlecOrAlonzo · 06/10/2018 10:07

9 off the top of my head. But most of them are older women rather than wee ones. I only know two under 30.

I just think often names are popular within certain communities and don't necessarily have "twee" connotations.

PiperPublickOccurrences · 06/10/2018 09:30

It's awful. Bad on a toddler with worse on a a teenager or adult woman.

Eeevvvveee · 06/10/2018 05:07

It's cute as a nickname. Weird that people are so repulsed by it as a full name but Molly, Holly, Tilly are fine though!

Chepsi · 06/10/2018 01:57

I know a 1 year old Dolly. It's not a nickname. It's just awful. A dolly is a toy!

Polkasq · 06/10/2018 01:51

It's too toy cupboardy.

HoratioNightboy · 06/10/2018 00:48

I know loads of women called Dolly but as a nn for Dolina.

I know quite a few Dolinas, none of whom call go by Dolly! I know one teenage Dolly who has it as a given name. It is a wee bit twee, but doesn't seem odd at all once you know the person.

Picknickers · 06/10/2018 00:14

The Dolly I know is in her 60s and a right sweary Mary Grin

RedDwarves · 05/10/2018 23:41

Dolly is awful. I would hate to have that name. It's so juvenile. I can't imagine a Dolly being taken seriously as a professional.

Muddlingalongalone · 05/10/2018 21:51

I know a Dolly aged 2ish. She's the youngest of 3 lovely girls who get dressed identically constantly despite roughly 5/6 year age gap between oldest and youngest.
It suits her at 2 but not sure about at 32.

raviolidreaming · 05/10/2018 21:48

I know loads of women called Dolly but as a nn for Dolina

How many is loads? I've never even heard of the name Dolina but it sounds quite common place where you are!

ImNotonLinkedInNo · 05/10/2018 19:03

PS I like Dulcie
Use that. Please.

ImNotonLinkedInNo · 05/10/2018 18:48

No. That is absolutely TERRIBLE.

Even Polly, Molly and Holly are a bit twirly for my taste but Dolly is just in another (worse) league. Don't do it. Please

It's more than just not to most people's taste. It's worse cos it's infantilising.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 05/10/2018 18:44

There is a dolly in my dc nursery I got terribly confused when the staff told me my dc had been playing with dolly as that's our dogs name 🙈

Sunflower321 · 05/10/2018 18:41

Childish. Dolly could be Teddy's sister Grin

Itsear · 05/10/2018 18:31

A rather babyish name, popular for lap dogs but not great for an adult human.

Original poster
dandelion93 · 05/10/2018 18:20

@stopdropandroll yes, it's a registered name by itself, not as nickname!

Theodore was registered for 1,761 boys in 2017.

Teddy (on its own) was registered for 1,626.

It's around half who would have the full name on their BC! Smile

OP posts:
stopdropandroll · 05/10/2018 18:16

i know an (olu)dolapo who goes by dolly - many people will have it as a nickname but the statistic you saw must be for actual registered names. wonder how many boys named teddy actually have theodore/similar on their birth certificate

FaithInfinity · 05/10/2018 18:11

I had a great aunt who was born around 1900, she was Dorothy NN Dolly or Doll. Like pp, I like it as a NN but wouldn’t use it just as ‘Dolly’.

BabloHoney · 05/10/2018 18:10

I went to school with a Dolly. Her full name was Gwendoline, and on Facebook she now uses Gwendoline! It’s ok as a nickname for a little girl but not sure I’d want to be an adult called Dolly.
There’s a Dolly in my son’s class too but she’s really Dulcie.

IHaveBrilloHair · 05/10/2018 18:10

Awful as a full name, fine as a nickname.

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