Jolly
Fact sheet
- Name
- Jolly
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 2
The first name Jolly is a variant of the name Jolie and translates to mean "the Funny," "the Cheerful," or "the Pretty."
What does the name Jolly mean?
Jolly is a feminine form of the name Jolie and carries the meaning "the Funny," "the Cheerful," or "the Pretty." The name has its roots in the Old French and Middle English words joli or jolif, which mean "pretty," "cute," "cheerful," "bright," "merry," or "funny." Additionally, Jolly can also be seen as a short form of Jolanda, where the meaning is then "the Violet." This meaning derives from the Ancient Greek elements iólē (ἰόλη) for "violet" or íon (ἴον) for "violet" as well as ánthos (ἄνθος) for "flower," "blossom," "tip," "brightness," and "brilliance."
Where does the name Jolly come from?
The name Jolly has its roots in Old French and Ancient Greek and means "the Funny." The Old French terms joli or jolif mean "pretty," "cute," "cheerful," "bright," "merry," and "funny." The derivation from Jolanda leads to the Ancient Greek words iólē (ἰόλη) for "violet" or íon (ἴον) for "violet" as well as ánthos (ἄνθος), which means "flower," "blossom," "tip," "brightness," and "brilliance." The languages used are English, French, and Dutch.
How do you pronounce Jolly?
The pronunciation of Jolly is melodious and playful. The name is two syllables and is pronounced as "Jol-ly" [ˈdʒɔli]. The onset with a rounded O and the bright ending syllable creates a flowing sound that feels lively and cheerful due to the soft double-L structure. Thus, Jolly conveys a carefree, modern, and positive aura.
Popularity
In Germany, the name Jolly is rather rare. It has not yet found a place in the German first name charts. The best placement in Italy was in 2017 when Jolly ranked 2,108th. In the last ten years, the name has been given less than ten times in Italy, resulting in a 5,278th place in the ten-year statistics. Between 1999 and 2024, Jolly ranks 7,492nd in Italy.
Nicknames & pet names
Jo / Jojo / Jolinchen / Lolli
Famous people
- Jolly Abraham (Indian actress)
- Jolly Blackburn (illustrator)
- Jolly Jumper (horse of Lucky Luke)
- Jolly Katongole (English boxer)
- Jolly Kramer-Johansen (Norwegian musician)
- Jolly Mukherjee (Indian singer)
Frequently asked questions about the name Jolly
What is the origin of the name Jolly?
The name Jolly has its roots in Old French and Ancient Greek. It originally comes from the terms 'joli' and 'jolif,' which mean 'pretty' or 'cheerful.' Additionally, Jolly can also be considered a short form of the name Jolanda, which has roots in the Ancient Greek word for 'violet.'
What does the name Jolly mean?
Jolly means 'the Funny,' 'the Cheerful,' or 'the Pretty.' These meanings derive from the Old French words associated with beauty and cheerfulness. In connection with Jolanda, Jolly can also mean 'the Violet.'
How popular is the name Jolly?
The name Jolly varies in popularity across different countries. In some regions, it has a charming, cheerful sound and enjoys a certain popularity, while in others, it is rather rare. Generally, it is often perceived as a joyful and inviting name.