Total births
348
Unisex name · since 1891
Jolly
Jolly has 348 recorded births since 1891 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1934 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 348
- total births
- 1891–1978
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
Jolly sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 348 recorded since 1891.
Jolly has 348 recorded births among boys since 1891, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1891 to 1978.
- 348 total births
- 1891–1978 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 26% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
348 boys have been named Jolly since 1891, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1978.
- 348
- total births
- 1891–1978
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Jolly was born in this single decade.
1934
Single peak year
14 babies were named Jolly in 1934 - its busiest year on record.
Jolly's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Jolly splits its recorded history at 1936: 47% of all births land in the more recent half, 53% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1891 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1934 peak of 14 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Jolly at a glance
Last recorded 1978Peak year
1934
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1891
Jolly popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1891–1978
- Peak year (1934)
- 14
- Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
Jolly popularity over time - girls
119 total births recorded since 1926 (Jolly as girls' name)
Jolly by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Jolly's strongest decade.
92 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Jolly births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 10
1890s
10 births
- 1910s
1910s
51 births
- 1920s
1920s
63 births
- 1930s
1930s
92 births
- 1940s
1940s
55 births
- 1950s
1950s
45 births
- 1960s 21
1960s
21 births
- 1970s 11
1970s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 92 births (26% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Jolly? ▼
Since 1891, Social Security records show 348 babies named Jolly. The most recent recorded year was 1978. Its busiest year on record was 1934, with 14 births.
When was Jolly most popular? ▼
Jolly was most popular in the 1930s decade with 92 total births. The single peak year was 1934.
Is Jolly a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Jolly is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 348 births, and as a girl's name it has 119 births.
How long has the name Jolly been used? ▼
Jolly has been recorded in Social Security data since 1891, spanning 88 years of data through 1978.
What names are similar to Jolly? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Jolan, Jolon, Jolin, Jolen, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Jolly's data
- Jolly's decade-level peak was the 1930s (92 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Jolly
Nearby Names Like Jolly
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Jolly
Jolan Boy
#8513 286 births
Jolon Boy
91 births
Jolin Boy
47 births
Jolen Boy
45 births
Jolyon Boy
31 births
Compare Jolly side by side: Jolly vs Jolan Jolly vs Jolon Jolly vs Jolin
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1891–1978 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Jolly: Baby Name Since 1891 - 348 Births, Peak 1934." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/jolly. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Jolly draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.