UK name, mostly boys
Hollis
From a surname of English origin referring to a dweller by the hollies.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hollis is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Hollis popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 5 births.
This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2013 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Hollis. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hollis ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 5 boys were registered as Hollis.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hollis as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 87.5% of Hollis registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
5 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hollis
In England and Wales birth records, Hollis has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 87.5% of registrations are for boys and 12.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Hollis registered for boys
- Ranked #4,991 in 2023
- 3 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2016 (5 births)
Hollis registered for girls
- Ranked #5,742 in 2013
- 3 girls registered in 2013
- Peak: 2013 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Hollis mean?
The name Hollis has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of the words "hol" meaning hollow or hole, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. It likely emerged as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a hollow or depression in a meadow or woodland area.
The earliest recorded use of Hollis as a given name dates back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Hollis of Ermington, a landholder in Devon, England, mentioned in records from around 1275.
In the 14th century, a notable figure named Hollis Ayloffe was recorded as a landowner and member of the gentry in Berkshire, England. He lived during the reign of King Edward III, circa 1330-1380.
During the English Renaissance, Hollis Greville (1554-1619) was a prominent figure, serving as a member of Parliament and courtier to Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a patron of the arts and a supporter of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America.
In the 17th century, Hollis Frampton (1636-1701) was an English politician and member of the House of Commons, representing the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.
Another notable bearer of the name was Hollis French (1779-1849), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 22nd Governor of New Hampshire from 1831 to 1838.
While the name Hollis has historically been more common in English-speaking countries, it has also been used in other cultures and languages over time, likely adopted from its English origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hollis over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hollis in England and Wales, from 2013 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hollis, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hollis by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hollis was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4856 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4019 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Hollis
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Hollis: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hollis in the UK right now?
In 2023, Hollis was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hollis most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 5 babies registered as Hollis in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hollis?
From a surname of English origin referring to a dweller by the hollies.
How many people are called Hollis in the UK?
A total of 21 babies have been registered as Hollis across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.