Holly

See also: holly

English

Alternative forms

• (given name) Hollie, Hollee, Holli, Hollye
• (surname) Holley

Etymology

• As an Irish surname, calque of mac cuilinn (“holly”) (see McCullen) and sometimes McQuillan.
• As an English surname, variant of Holley.
• As a Czech and Slovak surname, variant of Holý, Holy.
• Also as a locational English surname, from Old English hol leah (“wood, clearing, meadow”), compare Hollywood.
• Also as an English surname, short form of Holiday.
• Also as an English surname, after the holly tree.
• As a feminine given name popularized by Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (especially the 1961 film adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn).

Proper noun

Holly

1. A female given name from English.
   • 1929, Joyce Lankester Brisley, chapter 8, in More of Milly-Molly-Mandy:

     Grandma said, "I used to know a little girl called Holly - she always had her dresses trimmed with red or green." Milly-Molly-Mandy thought that was quite a nice name.

   • 2006, Joyce Winters, Let Your Light Shine, →ISBN, page 209:

     "Holly, would you mind if I named my little girl 'Holly'? I mean, it's right around Christmas time, and I always think of holly with Christmas.

2. A topographic surname from Middle English.
3. (rare) A male given name transferred from the surname.
4. A place in the United States:
   1. A town in Prowers County, Colorado, named after cattleman Hiram S. Holly.
   2. A township and village therein, in Oakland County, Michigan.
   3. A township in Murray County, Minnesota, named after settler John Z. Holly.
   4. An unincorporated community in Houston County, Texas.
   5. An unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington, named for a large holly tree.
   6. An unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia.