Polly as an alternative to Holly

[Ellen35]

Well I thought I'd narrowed it down to 3, Matilda, Annabel or Elsie but I still love Holly. I can't use as DH's sister has a dog called Holly and he's a bit funny about it. So what are your thoughts on Polly as an alternative? Not keen on Molly.
Thanks. I would love to make a firm decision soon. 7 weeks to go

I like Polly...but as your son is William I just don’t think it goes as a sibling name.

I love Elizabeth but know you weren’t agreeing on that one.

I’d go Annabel Elizabeth from your choices, such a beautiful name.

I much prefer Holly to Polly.

We had this exact same struggle with our DD2! Polly or Holly...

We ummed and aahed and eventually settled on Holly Elizabeth. I’m so glad we did but then I would say that wouldn’t I!

I have a 10 year old Polly and no one has ever made a parrot joke or asked her to put the kettle on, so I really wouldn't be concerned by that!

I've got one, she's awesome. I still love the name. She is the only one we know and no one has been daft enough to mention kettles to her. Also it's quite popular in literature. Still my fave girls name and we've had her a while!

Holly Elizabeth is lovely, nice for an older person too, Polly is too cutesie for me!

Holly is lovely, Polly is not , it would be at the bottom of your choices with Elsie .

Polly is lovely. I knew a very lovely, clever and pretty Polly once.

Love Polly, my nans name, would have absolutely used it but didn’t go with surname at all.

@HelgaGPataki

I have a 10 year old Polly and no one has ever made a parrot joke or asked her to put the kettle on, so I really wouldn't be concerned by that!

Same with my 9 year old Polly.

I don't really think it's a great substitute for Holly unless the only thing you like is the olly sound.
Holly to me is a really festive name and makes me think of the plant. Polly makes me think of the toys.

I really like Molly though.

I like Matilda best, then Annabel of your choices - they feel a bit more classic and "grown - up" to me. But if you want a "cute" sounding, nickname type of name, then I much prefer Polly over Holly and Elsie - Polly feels more traditional imo.

Polly is cute. The name is fine but all I think of when I hear that name is:

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick sick sick
Polly Pocket
Polly Parrot
Polly put the kettle on

But those references are quite dated now so I'm sure no one under the age of about 25 will even know what any of the above are! She certainly won't be bullied by her peers because of her name, she probably would have if she was born 30 years earlier though

I really like Polly. I think it's my favourite from your choices. I also like Annabel. Matilda is quite sweet. Elsie is horrible - far too cutesy and pretty trendy at the moment.

Holly is a standalone name but did you know Molly and Polly are both originally nicknames derived from Mary? Like Will and Bill from William or Rick and Dick from Richard.

I like Polly very much, and prefer it over Holly. Polly Elizabeth is lovely. (I do like all the names on your list though). Polly is the most distinct and interesting name on your list.

Polly is lovely, feminine, sweet and not too popular

Holly Elizabeth
Or Polly Matilda.

Prefer Holly over Polly. Not just because I'm a Holly 😂 They are both cutesy names, but Polly feels sickly sweet to me, whereas Holly feels more classic with William..

As for songs related to Polly. I had "Holly had a dolly and it's head popped off" all through school. So don't let Polly songs be your deciding factor!

Polly has also always been much less used than Holly. I do like Holly, but to me it's also a very 80s name along with Gemma, Kirsty, Lauren etc. It's classic, but also has a tiny edge of being a bit dated.

My closest school friend is Polly Elizabeth and she’s brilliant so I say go for it. It’s a great name with loads of shortening options if that’s your thing.

@AldiAisleofCrap

She will spend her life being asked to put the kettle on.

First thing I thought

Second was a parrot 🦜

Polly Elizabeth is great.

Polly is plucky, much prefer to Holly. I like Molly but Polly more unusual.

It's traditionally a nn for Mary, if that's of interest for the birth cert.

Love Matilda but so many of them. Annabel reminds me of the posh girls in the 80s. Elsie I just find a Victorian revival slightly too far - but it's cute I guess.