Dolly

[dandelion93]

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?

The only person it's not too twee on is Dolly Parton, and she's one of a kind.

Worse than twee, it's a plaything.

I know loads of women called Dolly but as a nn for Dolina. There might be a cultural trend here that you aren't getting.

I had a great aunt Dolly - her real name was Lorraine but she was the youngest of 12 and always called Doll/Dolly.

It's twee on Dolly Parton,but she trades on that. I don't think it's good on anyone else.

It's cute as a nickname for Dolores but not keen for a full name

Cute nickname, terrible actual name.

Funnily enough I just finished Clover Stroud's memoir today - one of her children is called Dolly. It's not a name I like myself and I think it would probably sort of suit really, devastatingly cool girls but would be terrible for a socially awkward or terribly serious child.

Like a PP I also had a relative (by marriage) known as Dolly/Doll. Her sisters were called Baby/Babe and Girly.

Dolly and Dolly are very old names/diminutives - often of Dorothy - a bit like Molly and Polly are diminutives of Mary. But I don't think it works nowadays - the "doll" association doesn't do a grown woman many favours. Maybe as a nickname at home for a young child it's OK.

Dolly and Doll that was meant to say!

Awful as a full name, fine as a nickname.

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.

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’.

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

@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!

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

Childish. Dolly could be Teddy's sister

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 🙈

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.

PS I like Dulcie
Use that. Please.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

It's too toy cupboardy.