Kelley Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationKEL-ee / /ˈkɛli/Irish; English
Meaning
Irish: 'descendant of Ceallach'; English: 'dweller by the river'
Historical & Cultural Background
Kelley is derived from the Irish surname O'Ceallach, which means 'descendant of Ceallach'. The name has been used as both a first name and a surname in various cultures. In English-speaking countries, it has gained popularity as a given name, particularly in the 20th century. The name is often associated with a sense of strength and resilience.
Trend Summary
Kelley has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., peaking in the 1970s and 1980s.
Similar Names
Variants
- Kelli
- Kelly
International Variants
- Kéllie (English)
Famous people named Kelley
Kelley O'Hara is a professional soccer player known for her contributions to the U.S. Women's National Team.
Kelley Armstrong is a Canadian author recognized for her work in the fantasy genre.
Kelley Blue Book is a well-known vehicle valuation and automotive research company.
Kelley Ripa is an American actress and television host, famous for co-hosting 'Live with Kelly and Ryan'.
Fictional characters named Kelley
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kelley was first seen in the United States in 1882. Kelley has ranked as high as #927 nationally, which occurred in 1968, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Kelley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Kelley (2011)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 5 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1886 | 6 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1893 | 6 |
| 1894 | 6 |
| 1897 | 9 |
| 1898 | 6 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1901 | 8 |
| 1902 | 11 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1905 | 8 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1907 | 9 |
| 1908 | 11 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1910 | 11 |
| 1911 | 16 |
| 1912 | 18 |
| 1913 | 22 |
| 1914 | 17 |
| 1915 | 33 |
| 1916 | 30 |
| 1917 | 32 |
| 1918 | 31 |
| 1919 | 34 |
| 1920 | 46 |
| 1921 | 33 |
| 1922 | 28 |
| 1923 | 29 |
| 1924 | 24 |
| 1925 | 30 |
| 1926 | 31 |
| 1927 | 32 |
| 1928 | 28 |
| 1929 | 28 |
| 1930 | 25 |
| 1931 | 26 |
| 1932 | 21 |
| 1933 | 20 |
| 1934 | 17 |
| 1935 | 37 |
| 1936 | 18 |
| 1937 | 23 |
| 1938 | 22 |
| 1939 | 24 |
| 1940 | 30 |
| 1941 | 33 |
| 1942 | 40 |
| 1943 | 31 |
| 1944 | 32 |
| 1945 | 36 |
| 1946 | 44 |
| 1947 | 46 |
| 1948 | 31 |
| 1949 | 36 |
| 1950 | 46 |
| 1951 | 54 |
| 1952 | 65 |
| 1953 | 78 |
| 1954 | 65 |
| 1955 | 74 |
| 1956 | 108 |
| 1957 | 107 |
| 1958 | 150 |
| 1959 | 144 |
| 1960 | 155 |
| 1961 | 146 |
| 1962 | 137 |
| 1963 | 116 |
| 1964 | 123 |
| 1965 | 110 |
| 1966 | 135 |
| 1967 | 132 |
| 1968 | 168 |
| 1969 | 148 |
| 1970 | 132 |
| 1971 | 141 |
| 1972 | 102 |
| 1973 | 97 |
| 1974 | 116 |
| 1975 | 101 |
| 1976 | 118 |
| 1977 | 87 |
| 1978 | 85 |
| 1979 | 80 |
| 1980 | 111 |
| 1981 | 97 |
| 1982 | 90 |
| 1983 | 63 |
| 1984 | 67 |
| 1985 | 75 |
| 1986 | 73 |
| 1987 | 64 |
| 1988 | 62 |
| 1989 | 93 |
| 1990 | 59 |
| 1991 | 57 |
| 1992 | 64 |
| 1993 | 34 |
| 1994 | 48 |
| 1995 | 37 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1997 | 27 |
| 1998 | 24 |
| 1999 | 35 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 8 |