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Pollie

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Pollie

Pronounced POL-ee /ˈpɒl.i/High

Meaning: Pollie is a spelling of Polly, itself a pet form of Mary that arose through the rhyming path Mary to Molly to Polly. Mary's own roots trace to Hebrew Miriam, with meanings usually given as 'beloved', 'wished-for child' or 'bitter'. Given directly, Pollie carries Mary's meaning.Medium

In 30 seconds: Pollie is a spelling of Polly, the old rhyming pet form of Mary. A vintage American rarity, it peaked faintly around 1920 and faded by mid-century (said 'POL-ee').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Hebrew

MeaningPollie is a spelling of Polly, itself a pet form of Mary that arose through the rhyming path Mary to Molly to Polly. Mary's own roots trace to Hebrew Miriam, with meanings usually given as 'beloved', 'wished-for child' or 'bitter'. Given directly, Pollie carries Mary's meaning.

U.S. rank (1987)#12687 ↘ Falling

1987 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,265

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

Pollie is a variant spelling of Polly, a pet form of Mary that grew up through rhyme: Mary softened to Molly, and Molly rhymed into Polly. Mary itself descends from Hebrew Miriam, traditionally read as 'beloved', 'wished-for child' or 'bitter'. Written with the affectionate -ie ending, Pollie was given as a stand-alone name in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century America.

It was always a modest choice — a few dozen girls a year at its faint peak around 1920 — and it faded steadily as families returned to Mary and Polly proper. It reads today as a genuinely old-fashioned pet name; the vintage-name revival has favored Mary and even Polly over the -ie spelling, which remains rare.

Did you know? Polly reached Mary by a chain of rhyming nicknames — Mary became Molly, and Molly rhymed into Polly — the same playful path that turned Margaret into Peggy.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Pollie — variant of Polly, pet form of Mary via Molly

Variations

PollyPolyPollee

Nicknames

PollPolly

Famous Bearers

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If you like Pollie…

Polly— the standard spelling of the very same pet name

Molly— the rhyming step between Mary and Polly, sharing the root

Mamie— a fellow vintage pet form of Mary

Hallie— a like homey -ie name of the same era

Explore names like Pollie

By themerare english vintage short-form

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Pollie mean?

Pollie is a form of Polly, a pet form of Mary, whose Hebrew roots are usually read as 'beloved' or 'wished-for child'.

How do you pronounce Pollie?

It's said POL-ee /ˈpɒl.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Pollie a boy or girl name?

Pollie is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Pollie?

Pollie has always been rare in the U.S., a vintage pet form most seen in the early twentieth century.