Lolly is a diminutive of Lola, Lorraine, or any L-name that wants to get smaller and sweeter. It carries a candy-bright cheerfulness that is either exactly right for a small, bouncy animal or slightly too much, depending on the day. It belongs to the tradition of pet names that describe the experience of owning the pet rather than any quality the animal actually possesses.
The Candy and Sweetness Register
In British English, a lolly is simply a candy on a stick, giving the name an immediate association with sweetness. Bichon Frises and Malteses are natural fits: small white dogs that owners tend to describe as the loves of their lives.
The -y/-ie Ending Pattern
Names ending in the -ee sound: Lolly, Molly, Dolly, Holly. They're easy to say warmly, easy to extend (Lolly-bear), and read as clearly affectionate. The human name Lola is the more contemporary version of this root, but Lolly retains a specific retro sweetness.
Counter-Reading: The Sweetness Ceiling
Lolly works perfectly when the animal is actually sweet-natured. On a cat who primarily expresses contempt, the name becomes ironic, which is its own kind of charm. Browse other diminutive pet names.