Kelly Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationKEL-ee / /ˈkɛli/Irish; English
Meaning
Irish: 'warrior' or 'descendant of Ceallach'; English: 'bright-headed'
Historical & Cultural Background
Kelly is traditionally an Irish surname that has become popular as a given name. It is derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Ceallaigh, which means 'descendant of Ceallach'. The name has been used for both boys and girls, though it is more commonly associated with females in contemporary usage. In the United States, Kelly gained popularity as a boy's name in the mid-20th century.
Trend Summary
Kelly was most popular as a boy's name in the 1970s and 1980s, but has since declined in usage.
Similar Names
Variants
- Kelley
- Kelli
International Variants
- Kelli (English)
- Kelley (English)
Famous people named Kelly
Kelly Slater is a professional surfer known for winning multiple world championships.
Kelly Ripa is an American actress and television host recognized for her work on daytime television.
Kelly Clarkson is a singer and songwriter who gained fame as the winner of the first season of 'American Idol'.
Kelly Olynyk is a professional basketball player who has played in the NBA.
Fictional characters named Kelly
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kelly was first seen in the United States in 1880. Kelly has ranked as high as #210 nationally, which occurred in 1967, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Washington, Utah, and North Carolina. In the past 5 years the name Kelly has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Kelly (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 14 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| IL | 7 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| PA | 5 | |
| TX | 5 | |
| FL | 5 | |
| GA | 5 | |
| MO | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1881 | 8 |
| 1882 | 13 |
| 1883 | 12 |
| 1884 | 10 |
| 1885 | 15 |
| 1886 | 16 |
| 1887 | 13 |
| 1888 | 10 |
| 1889 | 17 |
| 1890 | 11 |
| 1891 | 9 |
| 1892 | 18 |
| 1893 | 21 |
| 1894 | 12 |
| 1895 | 23 |
| 1896 | 14 |
| 1897 | 15 |
| 1898 | 10 |
| 1899 | 9 |
| 1900 | 33 |
| 1901 | 12 |
| 1902 | 16 |
| 1903 | 21 |
| 1904 | 13 |
| 1905 | 11 |
| 1906 | 20 |
| 1907 | 29 |
| 1908 | 25 |
| 1909 | 26 |
| 1910 | 46 |
| 1911 | 41 |
| 1912 | 57 |
| 1913 | 63 |
| 1914 | 92 |
| 1915 | 101 |
| 1916 | 90 |
| 1917 | 131 |
| 1918 | 118 |
| 1919 | 144 |
| 1920 | 121 |
| 1921 | 133 |
| 1922 | 141 |
| 1923 | 111 |
| 1924 | 125 |
| 1925 | 121 |
| 1926 | 123 |
| 1927 | 132 |
| 1928 | 128 |
| 1929 | 141 |
| 1930 | 117 |
| 1931 | 129 |
| 1932 | 105 |
| 1933 | 120 |
| 1934 | 144 |
| 1935 | 125 |
| 1936 | 138 |
| 1937 | 126 |
| 1938 | 137 |
| 1939 | 153 |
| 1940 | 142 |
| 1941 | 160 |
| 1942 | 249 |
| 1943 | 275 |
| 1944 | 275 |
| 1945 | 240 |
| 1946 | 283 |
| 1947 | 351 |
| 1948 | 379 |
| 1949 | 510 |
| 1950 | 488 |
| 1951 | 701 |
| 1952 | 805 |
| 1953 | 845 |
| 1954 | 964 |
| 1955 | 1,250 |
| 1956 | 1,468 |
| 1957 | 1,876 |
| 1958 | 2,299 |
| 1959 | 2,437 |
| 1960 | 2,931 |
| 1961 | 3,013 |
| 1962 | 2,856 |
| 1963 | 2,727 |
| 1964 | 2,492 |
| 1965 | 2,259 |
| 1966 | 2,784 |
| 1967 | 3,093 |
| 1968 | 3,058 |
| 1969 | 2,791 |
| 1970 | 2,495 |
| 1971 | 2,266 |
| 1972 | 1,917 |
| 1973 | 1,702 |
| 1974 | 1,758 |
| 1975 | 1,644 |
| 1976 | 1,540 |
| 1977 | 1,484 |
| 1978 | 1,308 |
| 1979 | 1,208 |
| 1980 | 1,183 |
| 1981 | 1,181 |
| 1982 | 1,271 |
| 1983 | 1,054 |
| 1984 | 985 |
| 1985 | 892 |
| 1986 | 873 |
| 1987 | 786 |
| 1988 | 740 |
| 1989 | 811 |
| 1990 | 687 |
| 1991 | 643 |
| 1992 | 534 |
| 1993 | 475 |
| 1994 | 385 |
| 1995 | 357 |
| 1996 | 339 |
| 1997 | 284 |
| 1998 | 240 |
| 1999 | 195 |
| 2000 | 202 |
| 2001 | 174 |
| 2002 | 185 |
| 2003 | 146 |
| 2004 | 160 |
| 2005 | 127 |
| 2006 | 139 |
| 2007 | 154 |
| 2008 | 113 |
| 2009 | 140 |
| 2010 | 101 |
| 2011 | 108 |
| 2012 | 106 |
| 2013 | 103 |
| 2014 | 105 |
| 2015 | 104 |
| 2016 | 118 |
| 2017 | 115 |
| 2018 | 103 |
| 2019 | 107 |
| 2020 | 110 |
| 2021 | 114 |
| 2022 | 122 |
| 2023 | 94 |
| 2024 | 109 |