Hollis

English
"near the holly bushes"

Hollis Origin and Meaning

The name Hollis is a boy's name of English origin meaning "near the holly bushes".

Hollis is a rugged, gentle and quietly used name, given to over 200 boys and 150 girls each year in the US. In 2023, it became one of the newest entries to the US Top 1000, where it fits in with the surnames-as-first-names trend, and other familiar choices like Ellis, Silas, and Holden.

Derived from the English surname meaning "near the holly bushes", it has a number of notable connections. Hollis Thompson is a professional basketball player; Hollis Watkins is a Civil Rights activist in Mississippi; Pete Hollis was a community folk hero; and "The Ballad of Hollis Brown" is a popular Bob Dylan song.

Combining woodsy sounds and outdoorsy vibes with a surname-y and smart style, Hollis feels sleek and preppy, but adventurous and spirited too.

# 1000 in the US

Hollis Rank in US Top 1000

# 354 on Nameberry

Hollis Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Hollis Popularity

Famous People Named Hollis

  • Hollis Thompson
    American basketball player

Hollis in Pop Culture

  • Hollis College
    university on "Pretty Little Liars"
  • Hollis
    from TV series "Mad About You"
  • Hollis Doyle
    elevator operator from "Mad Men”
  • Hollis Wilson
    from the book The Passage by Justin Cronin.
  • Hollis "Holly" Wood
    character from the from 1941