Jolie

♀ Girl

Pronounced JOH-lee /ˈdʒoʊ.li/High

Meaning: Pretty, cheerful; from French jolie (pretty, nice)High

In 30 seconds: A French adjective name meaning 'pretty' or 'cheerful.' Familiar to American ears largely through actress Angelina Jolie, it has been a gentle presence on U.S. girls' charts for decades.

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Origin HighFrench

MeaningPretty, cheerful; from French jolie (pretty, nice)

U.S. rank (2025)#1030 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births243 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 14,098

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Jolie is the French feminine adjective meaning pretty, nice, or cheerful, derived from Old Norse jol (a midwinter feast, cognate with Yule). It entered French usage in the medieval period. As a given name it functions as a straightforward French vocabulary name, similar to Belle or Claire.

Jolie has appeared in U.S. birth records from the mid-20th century onward. Its most prominent association is with actress Angelina Jolie, born Angelina Jolie Voight, who dropped her surname professionally. The name ranked #902 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Jolie entered French from an Old Norse word jol, meaning feast or festival — the same root as 'Yule.' So the French word for 'pretty' originally meant 'merry,' like the Christmas season.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Jolie — French etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

JoleeJoli

Nicknames

JoJoey

Famous Bearers

★Angelina Jolie (1975–present)
American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian; born Angelina Jolie Voight. Jolie is her middle name, which she uses professionally.

If you like Jolie…

Belle— French adjective name meaning beautiful, in the same vocabulary-name category

Claire— French adjective name meaning clear/bright, similarly elegant and short

Colette— French feminine name with a similar breezy, chic appeal

Brigitte— French feminine name popular in the same mid-century wave

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jolie mean?

Jolie means 'pretty' or 'cheerful' in French, derived from Old Norse jol (a midwinter feast), the same root as Yule.

How do you pronounce Jolie?

It's said JOH-lee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jolie a boy or girl name?

Jolie is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Jolie?

Jolie ranked #902 for U.S. girls in 2024.