Kelsey Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationKEL-see / /ˈkɛl.si/English; Irish
Meaning
English: from the island of the ships; Irish: slender
Historical & Cultural Background
Kelsey is a name of English origin that originally referred to a place name in Lincolnshire, England. It has also been used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name. The name gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States. While traditionally more common for girls, Kelsey has been used for boys as well.
Trend Summary
Kelsey has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, particularly peaking in the 1990s.
Similar Names
Variants
- Kelsie
- Kelsy
International Variants
- Kelsi (English)
Famous people named Kelsey
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Fictional characters named Kelsey
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kelsey was first seen in the United States in 1891. Kelsey has ranked as high as #948 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in California, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and New York. In the past 5 years the name Kelsey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Kelsey (2022)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1910 | 5 |
| 1912 | 10 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1914 | 10 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1918 | 15 |
| 1919 | 13 |
| 1920 | 7 |
| 1921 | 15 |
| 1922 | 10 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1924 | 14 |
| 1925 | 18 |
| 1926 | 15 |
| 1927 | 10 |
| 1928 | 12 |
| 1929 | 11 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1931 | 12 |
| 1932 | 11 |
| 1933 | 10 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1936 | 8 |
| 1937 | 15 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1939 | 10 |
| 1940 | 8 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1942 | 14 |
| 1943 | 12 |
| 1944 | 12 |
| 1945 | 12 |
| 1946 | 16 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1948 | 19 |
| 1949 | 24 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1951 | 17 |
| 1952 | 13 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1954 | 19 |
| 1955 | 13 |
| 1956 | 22 |
| 1957 | 19 |
| 1958 | 13 |
| 1959 | 25 |
| 1960 | 21 |
| 1961 | 15 |
| 1962 | 21 |
| 1963 | 18 |
| 1964 | 23 |
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1966 | 23 |
| 1967 | 24 |
| 1968 | 39 |
| 1969 | 38 |
| 1970 | 72 |
| 1971 | 71 |
| 1972 | 73 |
| 1973 | 73 |
| 1974 | 73 |
| 1975 | 97 |
| 1976 | 101 |
| 1977 | 84 |
| 1978 | 85 |
| 1979 | 90 |
| 1980 | 94 |
| 1981 | 100 |
| 1982 | 106 |
| 1983 | 115 |
| 1984 | 122 |
| 1985 | 121 |
| 1986 | 140 |
| 1987 | 161 |
| 1988 | 213 |
| 1989 | 250 |
| 1990 | 197 |
| 1991 | 186 |
| 1992 | 169 |
| 1993 | 161 |
| 1994 | 166 |
| 1995 | 157 |
| 1996 | 140 |
| 1997 | 99 |
| 1998 | 99 |
| 1999 | 91 |
| 2000 | 62 |
| 2001 | 70 |
| 2002 | 51 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 72 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 47 |
| 2007 | 38 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 27 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 |