Jolly: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	10	10	1	–	#1,044
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	51	51	5	–	#1,722
1920s	10	63	73	7	+43%	#2,713
1930s	30	92	122	12	+67%	#1,974
1940s	30	55	85	9	-30%	#2,037
1950s	21	45	66	7	-22%	#2,596
1960s	6	21	27	3	-59%	#3,850
1970s	–	11	11	1	-59%	#5,269
1980s	11	–	11	1	0%	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	6	–	6	1	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	5	–	5	1	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,044

1900s

–

1910s

–

#1,722

1920s

+43%

#2,713

1930s

122

+67%

#1,974

1940s

-30%

#2,037

1950s

-22%

#2,596

1960s

-59%

#3,850

1970s

–

-59%

#5,269

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Jolly

Jolly is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1891, 467 American babies have been named Jolly, about 75% boys and 25% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1937, when 21 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Jolly stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Jolly?

The median living Jolly is about 73 years old; half are between 62 and 79. An estimated 200 people named Jolly are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Jolly year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	5	#16,392	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	6	#16,418	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	5	#11,403	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	5	#4,181
1960	–	–	6	#3,850
1955	8	#4,545	–	–
1950	–	–	5	#3,947
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	13	#2,037
1935	–	–	11	#2,327
1930	7	#3,848	10	#2,700
1925	–	–	5	#4,572
1920	–	–	9	#3,080
1915	–	–	8	#2,948
1910	–	–	5	#1,722
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Jolly, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Jolly?

The median living Jolly is about 73 years old. Half of all living Jollys are between 62 and 79 years old.

How many people named Jolly are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Jolly are alive in the United States, based on 467 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Jolly in 2025?

Jolly did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Jolly?

467 babies have been named Jolly in the United States since 1891, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Jolly most popular?

Jolly peaked in 1937, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Jolly a boy or girl name?

Jolly is used for both: about 25% of babies named Jolly have been girls and 75% boys.

Is the name Jolly rising or falling?

Jolly has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Jolly

Jolly popularity over time

The story of Jolly

How old are people named Jolly?

Jolly year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Jolly