Holly
Holly comes directly from the name of the holly tree — the Old English "holegn." The holly has been associated with winter and Christmas for centuries (the holly and the ivy), and the plant's red berries and prickly leaves have made it a symbol of both protection and the persistence of life through winter. Holly entered the US top 1000 in 1936 and peaked at #55 in 1980. The peak was driven partly by the broader trend toward nature names and partly by Holly Hunter (born 1958), the actress who won the Oscar for "The Piano" (1993). Holly Golightly, the heroine of Truman Capote's 1958 novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film), gave the name a Hollywood elegance. I find Holly has a soft, slightly Christmas-y quality — the "H" opening is gentle, and the "-y" ending gives it friendliness. But the name has been outside the US top 500 since 2016. The plant association is lovely, and the Capote-Hepburn connection gives it cinematic weight. Holly is a female name of English (plant name) origin that means "Holly (the plant)". Soft, Christmas-y, and friendly. The name sounds bright. Hollys tend to be warm. US peaked #55 in 1980. Outside top 500 since 2016. Well-known people named Holly include Holly Hunter (actress), Holly Golightly (fictional, Breakfast at Tiffany's), Holly (plant), Holly (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Holly include Hollie (variant spelling), Holley (variant), Hollis (related surname), Holl (short form).