Molly — Dog Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Molly (MOLL-ee), 2 syllables — A friendly pet form of Mary, long loved as a dog name.. Verified by the Pets In The City editorial team, with real popularity data from our Auckland community.
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What does Molly mean?
English: A friendly pet form of Mary, long loved as a dog name..
Our editors checked this meaning before publishing. Names with several genuine origins are shown as separate senses rather than a single claim.
Is Molly a good dog name?
Molly is rated excellent to call. It has a clear, distinct sound that carries well across a noisy park and is hard to confuse with common training cues. With 2 syllables, it is quick to say — a practical length for recall.
Before you commit, say it out loud a few times and check it does not clash with a household name or a training cue like "sit" or "no".
Molly popularity in the Pets In The City community
Molly ranks #3 all-time in the Pets In The City community, carried by about 10.1 in every 1,000 dogs we care for (350 dogs). Its recent trend is falling.
By birth year: 1999 — rank #1 (35.0 per 1,000); 2002 — rank #2 (20.5 per 1,000); 2003 — rank #2 (13.7 per 1,000); 2004 — rank #3 (11.8 per 1,000); 2005 — rank #2 (15.4 per 1,000); 2006 — rank #1 (21.4 per 1,000); 2007 — rank #3 (11.2 per 1,000); 2008 — rank #2 (14.6 per 1,000); 2009 — rank #2 (19.0 per 1,000); 2010 — rank #5 (13.1 per 1,000); 2011 — rank #2 (18.9 per 1,000); 2012 — rank #3 (14.4 per 1,000); 2013 — rank #7 (7.9 per 1,000); 2014 — rank #7 (6.5 per 1,000); 2015 — rank #7 (7.6 per 1,000); 2016 — rank #4 (11.1 per 1,000); 2017 — rank #3 (9.9 per 1,000); 2018 — rank #9 (6.2 per 1,000); 2019 — rank #3 (12.5 per 1,000); 2020 — rank #14 (3.3 per 1,000); 2021 — rank #12 (6.4 per 1,000); 2022 — rank #11 (5.1 per 1,000); 2023 — rank #12 (4.4 per 1,000); 2024 — rank #9 (5.1 per 1,000).
Popularity comes from anonymised, aggregated records of dogs at our 5 Auckland centres, as of 2026-08-01. It reflects our community, not a national census.
What kind of dog does Molly suit?
It is most often used for girl dogs in our community. Owners often pick Molly for its classic, human name feel. Treat these as suggestions — plenty of dogs happily wear names that break every rule.
Introducing Molly!
Our entirely unscientific pack opinion.
So, Molly's checking in today. Are we sure she's not just here to take notes on how to run this place? I heard she even brings a clipboard!
Names similar to Molly
- Aadarsh — Indian name meaning 'ideal' or 'model'.
- Aaran — Variant of Aaron, meaning 'high mountain' or 'exalted'.
- Aaric — Variant of Eric, meaning 'eternal ruler' in Old Norse.
- Aaron — Exalted or high mountain.
- Aarron — Variant of Aaron, meaning 'mountain of strength'.
- Aavya — Sanskrit name meaning 'first rays of light'.
- Abbas — Means 'lion' in Arabic; also a name of a historical figure.
- Abbot — A title for the head of a monastery, derived from the Latin 'abbas'.
Collections featuring Molly
Like Molly? Find names that fit your dog
The Dog Name Matchmaker learns your taste and picks eight names that suit your dog's character — each with a reason it fits.
Naming a new puppy?
A great name is step one. Step two is a great start: our force-free puppy training classes build confidence and recall (that new name gets a workout). New to Pets In The City? Register your dog for a temperament assessment and meet the pack.
By the numbers
- 2 syllables — quick to call
- Ranked #3 of all names in our Auckland community
- About 10.1 in every 1,000 PITC dogs are called Molly
- Meaning and pronunciation verified by our editors
- Data from 5 Auckland Pets In The City centres
Find names like Molly Browse all names A–Z
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