The baby name Holland sounds like a twenty-first century pick in the key of London or Brooklyn. But this name has been around longer than you might guess.
Thanks to Jess for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
THE MEANING OF HOLLAND
Most of us immediately recognize Holland as a place, one we might associate with wooden shoes and windmills.
In English, we tend to use Holland and the Netherlands interchangeably. Technically, the Netherlands is the correct name. Holland refers to a specific region. The word comes from the phrase holt land – wood land, or maybe hoh land – high land. Netherlands means – wait for it – lower countries.
Dutch is even more complicated. It’s the name of the language spoken in the Netherlands, as well as the name of its people. But not so long ago, Dutch meant German … and, in German, Germany’s name is Deutschland – land of the Dutch.
But Holland endures, a place name that feels picturesque, European, romantic.
HOLLAND AS A SURNAME
Like many a place name, Holland became a surname, sometimes from the nation. But there were other places with similar names, in Lancashire and Derbyshire and Sussex, to name just a few in England, as well as Ireland and Norway. Some of the places have other origins and meanings, but all evolved into Holland over time.
Dozens of famous figures have answered to the surname Holland. Arguably the most famous right now? English actor Tom Holland, best known for playing Peter Parker in the Spider-Man and Avengers movies.
HOLLAND in NEW YORK CITY
Before we leave the map behind, let’s detour into New York.
Driving into New York City from New Jersey, motorists often take the Holland Tunnel.
The city started out as New Amsterdam, so it’s easy to assume that the tunnel is a reference to New York’s Dutch roots. But no. Instead, it was named for engineer Clifford Holland, who spent the 1910s and 20s designing tunnels for all the new automobile traffic in the growing city.
ACTRESS HOLLAND TAYLOR
There’s also actress Holland Taylor. The Philadelphia native started her career in New York theater. One of her early roles? On an ABC sitcom called Bosom Buddies, notable for also starring a young Tom Hanks.
Since then, she’s starred in everything from Legally Blonde to The Practice, Two and a Half Men to The L Word.
While Taylor’s fame almost certainly boosted the baby name Holland – at least for girls – it’s worth noting that it was in use well before her career began.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME HOLLAND?
The baby name Holland debuts in US Social Security Administration data in the year 1888.
In fact, Holland sometimes charts in the boys’ Top 1000 during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, last appearing in 1912.
Odds are that those Hollands were given a family surname as a first.
That might explain some of the early girl Hollands, too. In 1918, five girls received the baby name Holland and it debuted in the girls’ data, too.
More recently, the baby name Holland has surged in use for girls. As of 2023, it stands at an all-time high of #568. It’s ranked in the girls’ Top 1000 every year since 2014.
HOLLY, HOLLIS, HOLLAND
The most popular Hol- name, of course, is nature name Holly. It peaked it in the 1970s and 80s.
Surname name Hollis is having a moment for boys now, returning to the US Top 1000 in 2023 for the first time since 1974.
Other Hol- name options include literary Holden – though the sound is a little different – as well as Holiday/Holliday.
Holland benefits, of course, from possible nickname Holly. Chances are, though, that most families use the name in full.
SPARE & STYLISH
Overall, the baby name Holland feels like a perfect twenty-first century name. It feels fresh and interesting, like something that wouldn’t have been heard in the 1960s or 1990s. But it has history, too – enough to make it feel connected and meaningful.
We’re wild about unisex names, too, from River to Blake to Brighton. Holland feels like the best of all of those categories – a place name and surname that conjures a clear and appealing image, a mix of tulips and canals.
Overall, it’s a stylish choice with plenty of appealing backstory and a strong sound. It’s immediately familiar, but not at all common – a winning combination.
Weird. My 7 year old is named Holland Rae. Crazy! Both are maiden names of family members.
I’m from a small town in western NY called Holland, named for the Holland Land Co. that “settled” the area. I don’t think I could use this as a name, even though Holt is a family name.
My 2 year old daughter is Holland Ray. She’s darling and the name fits her so well. I have no intention of calling her Holly. My older daughter nicknamed her ‘Lulu’ when I was pregnant (as she couldn’t say Holland). I think it is beautifully feminine and unique! 🙂
My daughter is also Holland, and I’m annoyed when people try to shorten it to “Holly.” I love the name, and picked it more for it’s surname qualities than a place name. Good choice mama!!!
My first name is actually Holland! I’m not sure if it was to honor family or if they just thought they were being creative and original but I’ve always gone by Holly. I’ve never met another person with Holland as a first name, but a friend of mine has a younger sister named Hollyn. It was always very confusing whenever I was over at their house.
LOL, Another I live about 30 minutes from Annapolis, and my youngest sister acquired her blue tick hound while we were on vacation in Charleston! (And had to fly him back to LA, where he was really quite the unusual breed.) She intended to call him Charleston, but it never did stick.
Hey, I said “etc.” I wasn’t forgetting the rest, just didn’t feel like taking up the entire page with a list of Whedon characters.
By the way, I popularized the name Brooklyn nearly 8 years ago when I bought a cocker spaniel puppy and named her Brooklyn, after my hometown. I was living in Charleston at the time, and had fond feelings about home and thought it was a GREAT name – for a dog. Every time people ask about Brooklyn, or worse: Brooklynn, I tell the tale (tail? haha) of purchasing a puppy and naming her Brooklyn. My other dog is Annapolis. We LOVE place names – FOR PETS.
Another, let’s not forget Cordelia, Harmony, Anya, Malcolm, Inara, River (for a girl) and Shepherd (though that’s a title, not a first name). There’s little doubt that Joss Whedon and company are among the most interesting namers on television. I’d always heard the rule was that one of your characters could have a “stand out” name, but the rest had to blend in.
I have a couple of posts planned about names used on new TV series. Rumor has it there’s a new Joss Whedon show headed our way, and he’s calling the lead character Echo. Interesting! Assuming this actually debuts, you’re right – there’s a rich post there.
Lola, I love Clare for Clarence. Clare is a family name for us, and I’d suggested using it as a middle name if our second child was a boy. My husband wasn’t too keen on that. And I love Maggie for Magnus – wasn’t that a minor character’s nickname in the Will Smith movie Hitch?
DirtyHippy, my fave places names are Georgia and India, so I suppose I’m with you on the feminine sounding choices. Brooklyn’s a fabulous place to live, but I can’t imagine choosing the name for a child. Someone on a forum recently claimed that they were naming their daughter Breukelen, like the Dutch town that inspired the borough’s name. I really, really hope that was more flight of fancy than actual plan.
Holland is not for me. I see HolLAND and think, well, that’s the name of some land not a person. Now, if it were HolGIRL . . . just kidding.
I really do like some place names but usually it’s the ones that are tied to people (Virginia, Helena, Augusta) and have a more feminine feel. But I will wholeheartedly agree with AM that Holland beats the pants off of Brooklyn or Madison any day.
Here’s a masculine usage:
Sam Anderson, otherwise known as Principal DeWitt on Growing Pains, played the evil Holland Manners on Angel in several guest spots. Until then, I had only known of the feminine usage (Holland Taylor) and was surprised to see it as a guy’s name. Of course, Joss Whedon gives people surprising names: On Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel there was Lindsey (boy), Willow, Buffy, Xander, Angel, Drusilla, etc. Plenty of oddities. you might do an article on the names of Joss Whedon’s universe…if you were so inclined.
Holland’s not my cup of tea, personally but I don’t mind it. I know one, actually. Her Chinese parents thought they were being worldly giving her the moniker. She laughs at them, they cannot say her name (she’s Horand to them!) Makes me giggle too. Horry as a nickname. Drives her mad.
But I do like it’s crisp, handsome sound. Based on sound alone, I’d classify this boy. Holly makes me think girl. Either way, it’s an attractive sound, interesting look. I’m just glad my parents didn’t choose it! 😀 unisex names are so not for me. I like folks knowing up front what’s expected. At best, you’ll find a girly nickname on one of my boys. Maggie (for Magnus), Cass (for Casimir, Cassius & Caspar) and Clare (for Clarence) are all on my list for another boy this time around.