Does this name suit an adult?

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Molly. I have heard a few people say that although they think it's a nice name, it's not suitable for an adult.

I understand what they're saying but surely no one has actually gone up to Molly Ringwald and told her that she doesn't suit her name. Don't people just become their names? What is everyone's opinion?

I think it´s fine for an adult.

In actual fact I think of it as an old ladies name along with Maisie & Phoebe.

It's either a toddler or little girl name (under ten), or an old lady name. It's the bit in the middle where it doesn't work!

It just sounds like a child's name because it became very popular quite suddenly after previously being unusual - so it will grow up with the children. I only know one Molly who is now in her 60s so it has always been an adult name to me.

Of course it sounds fine for an adult.
It isn't a new name!
I have known of a number of adults called Mollie/Molly and all have managed perfectly with their name.
Have known of adults in high positions at work too with the name, so not even going to be a hindrance in that way.

FWIW my DD is called Mollie and I love her name, it suits her immensly, and it will grow with her.

I know an old lady who is abit mad but lovely and she's called Molly.So yes it does suit an adult imo!

all of these names will work fine on grown ups ime - when she is grown up there'll be a whole generation of girls called Ellie, Poppy, Daisy, Lily, Milly, Maisie, etc etc and it will be the norm then. (the mumsnetters of the future will be asking this question about a whole different set of names I think!).

I'm having the same issues with Annie. I absolutely adore Annie but not sure if it is a strong enough name for an adult. Anna and Ann which seem so much more grown up just don't do it for me.

Mollie is a nice name btw

Another one here who finds Molly (along with Poppy, Tilly, Ellie etc) not very elegant. I much prefer longer names (e.g. Margaret, Magdalena, Eloenora, Elisabeth) - they are more feminine and elegant to my ears.

But thankfully we all have different tastes - would be very dull if we all chose the same names .

sorry, Eleonora

Annie seems fine for an adult, with the added advantage of not having the alternate Ann/Anne spelling.

Sorry but stick by my opinion - its a toddler name just don't think it would work professionally. THeres a newsreader reporter called Daisy something who is serious and always think her name just does not suit what she is doing. Honey is another one that fails this test and Sonny or Junior for boys. But then most disagree so probably just me!

There seem to be a lot of either babies or old ladies named Molly, with very little in between.

It's fine for an adult, but it does sound nicknamey. It's a diminutive of Mary, so I'd use Mary, with Molly as nickname. Personally I'm not that keen, although I like Millie and Holly, so not sure why!

It hadn't even crossed my mind that it was a toddler name. One of my oldest friends, very professional, is Molly and it really suits her.

Chose a properly mn hated cutesy name for DD but was also a bit paranoid about the professional thing. Did meet a doctor called Mimi the other day though and realised a 'cute' name doesn't detract from being professional in the slightest!

I'm in 2 minds about this - if we're talking about anyone worth their salt, who goes out into the world and makes a go of it, well, they pretty much always become 'greater' than their name, IYKWIM. I mean, there are some pretty ludicrous names out there which haven't held people back - Condeleeza springs to my immediate mind, but there are loads of others.

Having said that, there are plenty of names I just would never choose for my own child, because I think they're twee or silly not to my taste, or will date very quickly and, basically, because I'm naming a human being, not a doll. Lola is the first name that sprang to mind and I see someone else already mentioned it upthread. Tallulah, FFS. Molly is nowhere near in the league of these names.

Of course, Tallulah is as likely to be Prime Minister as Catherine is - I just imagine that Tallulah's parents would probably be a bit disappointed in that (hoping, rather, to see her open her own nail technician business and marry a footballer), whereas Catherine's parents would be delighted and proud.

I won't deny - I judge freely - but the parents, not the person.

It's a perfectly good name for an adult. Nothing wrong with it.

It's a sweet nickname for a cute little girl.

Name her Mary or Margaret and let her go by Molly. She can then choose which name she would prefer once she's grown.

Names ending in "-y" sounds tend to feel like nicknames, even when they are accepted first names like Lucy. This is because in many English dialects (and in other Germanic languages fwiw), we use that sound to make a diminutive. E.g. lassie, laddie, kiddie.

...which is also why we tend to tack on a "-y" sound to make nicknames in English. The implication is that you need a "little" name for a little child, but a "big" name for an adult, so you cut out a bit of the big name and stick a "y" onto it.

Both my children are known by their diminutives. I'd be surprised if they both use them as their professional names though. Personally I have always liked to have the choice of something formal and something more familiar for family, so I wanted my children to have that choice too.

I don't see that Molly is any different from many other names popular right now though.

My parents knew a Molly who would be 100+ if she was alive. Of course andadult can be called Molly.

Molly is beautiful!!! Suits an adult perfectly fine. The journalist you are talking about is Daisy McAndrew who IMO has a fab name and has a daughter called Millie interestingly enough. In 15-20 years time there'll be a whole generation of young ladies with these names and no-one will bat an eyelid. Ps... I'm a Lucy and have never heard of my name being called 'nicknamey' at all.... Not offended by the way just interesting other people's takes on names

I know two; one in her eighties, one aged 15. It's perfectly fine at any age.

Go for Molly. The country needs more milk maids.

Thre is a very senior woman in her forties I work with called Moll. You wouldn't mess with her.

I know a 75 yo Molly. Dont think she minds her name.