The name Holly is taken from the name of the evergreen holly tree.
The word Holly is derived from the Old English word holegn which means 'to prick,' - a verb that is very fitting for the holly tree's pointy green leaves.
The name Holly is often given to baby girls who are born in December, as the holly tree's distinctive leaves and red berries are customarily used in Christmas decorations.
The tradition for decorating homes with holly began with the ancient Celts, who believed the bright decorations brought them good luck.
The name became popular in the Victorian era when a trend emerged for naming baby girls after flowers.
The Victorians created a 'language of flowers' in which different plants were bestowed with different meanings. In the Victorian language of flowers Holly means domestic happiness.
Famous people called Holly:
Holly Willoughby, TV presenter
Holly Valance, singer
Holly Hunter, actor
Surnames to avoid pairing with the name Holly:
Surnames beginning with an 'E' or 'Y' might cause problems, as when said aloud this combination of sounds may result in elision – when two words slurred together end up sounding like one.
If you share a surname with former American president George Bush, you may also want to give this name a miss.
Similar names: Hollee, Hollie, Hollis (English), Holika (Indian), Holle (German)
Or how about another Christmas themed name such as Noelle or a plant themed name such as Ivy?
Masculine variants: Hollis (English) Holic (Czeh), Holleb (Polish).
Celebrities who named their baby Holly:
Charlton Heston, actor
Davina McCall, TV presenter
Michael Bolton, singer
Richard Branson, businessman