Molly, derived from Mary, is of Irish origin and means 'bitter sea'. It was quite popular during the Victorian era but has seen a resurgence in recent years. In literature, Molly is famously known as the protagonist in James Joyce's novel 'Ulysses'. Notable individuals sharing this name include American actress Molly Ringwald and Australian tennis player Molly Shattock.
The name Molly peaked in popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s with a high of 33 births in 1989. However, it has since seen a decline in usage, with only 5 births recorded in 2014. Overall, there were 360 babies named Molly from 1972 to 2014.