Holly
proper nouncommon in dialogue
A female given name from English.
proper noun
- 1
A female given name from English.
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.
"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.
The bodies of 19-year-old best friends Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones were returned to Australia on Tuesday night.
- 2
A topographic surname from Middle English.
- 3
rareA male given name transferred from the surname.
- 4
A place in the United States: A town in Prowers County, Colorado, named after cattleman Hiram S. Holly.
- 5
A place in the United States: A township and village therein, in Oakland County, Michigan.
- 6
A place in the United States: A township in Murray County, Minnesota, named after settler John Z. Holly.
- 7
A place in the United States: An unincorporated community in Houston County, Texas.
- 8
A place in the United States: An unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington, named for a large holly tree.
- 9
A place in the United States: An unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
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).