Pollyanna: 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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	87	9	–	#1,760
1920s	155	16	+78%	#1,694
1930s	59	6	-62%	#2,832
1940s	52	5	-12%	#2,912
1950s	25	3	-52%	#4,463
1960s	284	28	+1036%	#1,572
1970s	171	17	-40%	#2,789
1980s	46	5	-73%	#5,447
1990s	57	6	+24%	#8,663
2000s	41	4	-28%	#10,628
2010s	84	8	+105%	#9,357
2020s (to 2025)	68	11	+35%	#6,273

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#1,760

1920s

155

+78%

#1,694

1930s

-62%

#2,832

1940s

-12%

#2,912

1950s

-52%

#4,463

1960s

284

+1036%

#1,572

1970s

171

-40%

#2,789

1980s

-73%

#5,447

1990s

+24%

#8,663

2000s

-28%

#10,628

2010s

+105%

#9,357

2020s (to 2025)

+35%

#6,273

The story of Pollyanna

Pollyanna is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,273 in 2025 with 19 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1914, 1,129 American babies have been named Pollyanna. Its peak came in 1964, when 53 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Pollyanna stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pollyanna?

The median living Pollyanna is about 52 years old; half are between 26 and 61. An estimated 800 people named Pollyanna 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.

Pollyanna year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	19	#6,273
2024	13	#8,320
2023	9	#10,968
2022	9	#11,022
2021	10	#10,138
2020	8	#11,884
2019	8	#12,171
2018	8	#12,238
2017	8	#12,477
2016	8	#12,613
2015	12	#9,357
2014	9	#11,721
2013	9	#11,744
2012	5	#18,901
2011	10	#10,999
2010	7	#14,612
2009	6	#16,780
2008	11	#10,628
2007	7	#15,096
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	6	#15,287
2002	5	#17,456
2001	–	–
2000	6	#14,556
1995	–	–
1990	9	#9,022
1985	–	–
1980	9	#7,226
1975	27	#2,789
1970	23	#3,002
1965	25	#2,453
1960	21	#2,703
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	10	#2,912
1935	5	#4,764
1930	7	#3,972
1925	10	#3,314
1920	25	#1,694
1915	12	#2,502
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Pollyanna?

The median living Pollyanna is about 52 years old. Half of all living Pollyannas are between 26 and 61 years old.

How many people named Pollyanna are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Pollyanna are alive in the United States, based on 1,129 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pollyanna mean?

A female given name from Hebrew derived from Polly and Anna; rare in the real world.

How popular is the name Pollyanna in 2025?

Pollyanna ranked #6,273 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 19 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Pollyanna?

1,129 babies have been named Pollyanna in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pollyanna most popular?

Pollyanna peaked in 1964, when 53 newborns received the name.

Is Pollyanna a boy or girl name?

Pollyanna is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Pollyanna rising or falling?

Pollyanna is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Pollyanna

Pollyanna popularity over time

The story of Pollyanna

How old are people named Pollyanna?

Pollyanna year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Pollyanna