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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you perceive a Molly?

107 replies

Downwardpuppy · 11/10/2024 14:07

I love the name. Think it's understated & would travel well. Also think it's quite classless & can't be judged too quickly.
Any opinions?!

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MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 11/10/2024 23:08

Words · 11/10/2024 17:33

Mary is better.
Molly is a sweet ingenue name.
It doesn't pass the High Court Judge test.

Of course most high court judges are called John.

There's no girls name that passes the high court judge test.

So I think it's fine if Mollie plans to smash that glass ceiling.

ThomasPatrickKeatingsDegas · 11/10/2024 23:03

The two I know are an aristo and a young woman who married an aristo. Both very sweet, feminine and suited to the name.

Thunderpants88 · 11/10/2024 23:01

I find it a sickly sweet name that is childish

Pinkissmart · 11/10/2024 22:59

Words · 11/10/2024 17:33

Mary is better.
Molly is a sweet ingenue name.
It doesn't pass the High Court Judge test.

Well, neither did ‘Mary’ until a short time ago. Change is good 😀

MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 11/10/2024 22:56

I have a Molly. She's wild, bonkers, hilarious and brilliant. All the Molly's I've ever known are wild and strong and brilliant! I am still absolutely in love with the name!

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 11/10/2024 22:56

Lovely. A bit retro and also classic.

I know one and she's just qualified as a lawyer.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 11/10/2024 22:54

I know three Molly’s
mid 20’s
a spaniel (4?)
and a collie (12)
I think it suits the spaniel best

WGACA · 11/10/2024 22:48

Drugs

Taytocrisps · 11/10/2024 22:45

There was a song out back in the '80s (I think) and it was constantly playing on the radio here - My Irish Molly O. It's the first thing I think of when I hear Molly. So for that reason I'd steer clear of it. And now I'll have it playing constantly in my head until some other, equally annoying, song replaces it.

Psychologymam · 11/10/2024 22:44

Words · 11/10/2024 17:33

Mary is better.
Molly is a sweet ingenue name.
It doesn't pass the High Court Judge test.

But the high court judges test is just perpetuating the idea that judges should come from a certain class and be a certain race because that’s what you’re used to seeing. Personally, I think it would be great if judges reflected the population they serve rather than being mainly from a few schools/uni/all from very similar backgrounds.

fastforwardplay · 11/10/2024 22:16

I don't like it. Good name for a dolly, that's about it

SemperIdem · 11/10/2024 21:53

It’s a pet name to me.

HighCholesterolHorror · 11/10/2024 21:40

I don’t like - sorry

sadeightiesthrowback · 11/10/2024 21:40

I prefer Molly rather than Mollie, which looks like Ollie short for Oliver. Which I really don't like as a short for Oliver.!

InsanelyItchy · 11/10/2024 21:37

Moreteaandchocolate · 11/10/2024 14:12

I agree with everything you’ve said - it’s a lovely name that’s familiar, but not overused and suits all ages. No issues with spelling / pronunciation, travels well, not tied to any particular class or era.

Molly/Mollie??

PrincessOfPreschool · 11/10/2024 21:33

Quite a few Mollys in their teens around me. Personally think it's in the vein of Daisy, a bit 'maid from the 1900s' - but whatever floats your boat!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/10/2024 21:31

Not sure about travelling well - I think it’s only used in English speaking countries and possibly a couple of the Scandi ones?

However as “nicknames as given names” go, I think it’s one of the much nicer ones as it at least sounds like it could easily belong on a grown woman too (I find a lot of the nickname names cutesy but Molly isn’t) and its also nice that it’s well known but not too trendy and easy to say and spell.

Not sure about classless either - I’d be slightly surprised to hear it much in the very upper classes (except perhaps as a “family nickname” for an older Mary). However I could easily imagine a Molly who’s a Doctor or Vet etc, so it’s definitely Mumsnet approved in that regard 🤣

usernamebetty · 11/10/2024 20:26

I know 3 Mollys, a grown woman, a child and a teen. I think it's suits them all well, and they're all lovely. I really like it.

LastNight1Dreamt1WentToManderleyAgain · 11/10/2024 20:01

ViciousCurrentBun · 11/10/2024 19:59

There is the drug connection but for me and my love of historical slang it means a gay man, Georgian period.

Thanks for saying this. I was trying not to say it makes me think of 18th century sex workers (Moll Flanders).

ViciousCurrentBun · 11/10/2024 19:59

There is the drug connection but for me and my love of historical slang it means a gay man, Georgian period.

LastNight1Dreamt1WentToManderleyAgain · 11/10/2024 19:57

I would assume it was a nickname and she had some other whole proper name, like Mary or Margaret. Not judging. Just a feeling it's a diminutive and so would be a name for a pet, but a nickname for a person.

thursdaymurderclub · 11/10/2024 19:55

sadly it reminds me of a childhood song.. 'milly molly mandy, sweet as sugar candy, im in love wirh you!'

and i'm afraid my mazda is called molly!

ShakespeareInTurmoil · 11/10/2024 19:54

Sorry I hate it. I’m not a fan of diminutives for legal names anyway but I think of plump and frumpy when I think of Molly. Ugly name and the street name of a recreational drug. All round ghastly choice.

Charleymouse · 11/10/2024 19:51

cockles and mussels seller in Dublin.

Newsenmum · 11/10/2024 19:48

Drugs or puppy (imo)

doesn’t mean the association can’t change!