Polly is a name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls throughout history. The name is derived from the Middle English word "poli," which means "hairy" or "curly-haired." It was originally used as a nickname for people with particularly curly or abundant hair.
The use of Polly as a given name for girls became popular in the 18th century, thanks in large part to the character Polly Peachum from John Gay's 1728 play "The Beggar's Opera." The character was a servant girl who was known for her wit and charm, and her name became associated with these qualities. Since then, Polly has been used as a female given name, often as a short form of other names like Pauline or Polyxena.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Polly. One of the most famous is Polly Want a Cracker?, a phrase made popular by a mischievous African Grey parrot named Griffin who lived in the 1950s and 1960s. The phrase has become a classic pop culture reference and continues to be widely recognized today.
Today, Polly remains a popular name for girls and is often chosen for its friendly and approachable sound. It can also make a charming middle name option, thanks to its short and sweet nature. While it may have started out as a nickname for people with distinctive hair, Polly has since evolved into a name with its own unique identity and history.
The given statistics illustrate the annual number of births with the name Polly in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1960, the number of annual births named Polly fluctuated but generally showed an increasing trend. The highest number of Polly births during this period was recorded in 1960 with 610 births.
However, starting from the late 1960s, there was a significant decrease in the popularity of the name Polly. In fact, by 1975, the number of Polly births had dropped to just 155. This downward trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with fewer than 100 Polly births recorded each year.
In the early 2000s, there was a slight increase in the popularity of the name Polly, with around 20 to 50 births per year. However, since 2014, the number of Polly births has remained relatively stable, with approximately 40 to 60 births per year.
In total, between 1880 and 2023, there were 29,511 births named Polly in the United States. Despite its decline in popularity over recent decades, Polly remains a unique and distinctive name with a significant historical presence.