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2025 data, released 8 May 2026

2025 data, released 8 May 2026

Keeli

Keeli was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 2532nd; the most babies were born in 2002 (56). More babies were named Keeli in the 2000s than in any other decade.

Meaning (as Kelly) descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname) · Irish

Rank in 2025
Not rankedgirls
Babies in 2025
0girls
Girls and boys
Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
Peak year
200256 babies
Total since 1880
1,190babies recorded

What does the name Keeli mean?

Keeli is a spelling of Kelly, pronounced the same way, so it shares Kelly's meaning and origin.

Kelly is the anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, 'descendant of Ceallach'. The personal name Ceallach is of uncertain meaning; it is often connected with ceall 'church' or with a word meaning 'bright-headed' or 'strife', and none is proved. Kelly is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. It was first used as a boys' first name in the US, then became mainly a girls' name from the mid-20th century; actress Grace Kelly helped.

Ó Ceallaigh (Irish, “descendant of Ceallach”)

How sure is this? Uncertain. The surname's source is clear; the meaning of the underlying name Ceallach is not.

Other explanations you may read: 'warrior' or 'bright-headed' given as settled meanings.

Related names: Kelley, Kellie, Kaylee.

See also: Irish names.

Sources for this meaning

Keeli popularity since 1880

0255075100 1900192019401960198020002020
Girls Babies per year, US, from Social Security records. Years with fewer than 5 babies show as zero.
YearRank (girls)Babies (girls)
2025——
2020#11,6148
2010#4,25035
2000#3,18943
1990#4,59621
1980#5,69612
1970#4,89511
1960——
1950——
1940——
1930——
1920——
1910——
1900——
1890——
1880——

How popular is Keeli, counting every spelling?

Keeli is a spelling of Kelly, a name family that ranked #726 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 389 girls in 2025.

SpellingBabies 2025Official rankBabies 2021–2025
Kelly319#8521,664
Kelli17#6,690101
Kellie19#6,222100
Kelley15#7,32286
Keelie11#9,16368
Keli8#11,42426

Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.

How old are people named Keeli?

About 1,200 people born in the US named Keeli are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 19 and 37. That makes Keeli mostly worn by children and young adults.

0–910–1920–2930–3940–4950–5960–6970–7980–8990+
Estimated people alive in the US with the name, by age, mid-2026. The darker bar holds the median age.

Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.

Keeli by state

How common Keeli was among girls born in each state in 2000–2004, around its peak. In 47 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.

Alaska: fewer than 5 a yearAK–Maine: fewer than 5 a yearME–Wisconsin: fewer than 5 a yearWI–Vermont: fewer than 5 a yearVT–New Hampshire: fewer than 5 a yearNH–Washington: fewer than 5 a yearWA–Idaho: fewer than 5 a yearID–Montana: fewer than 5 a yearMT–North Dakota: fewer than 5 a yearND–Minnesota: fewer than 5 a yearMN–Illinois: fewer than 5 a yearIL–Michigan: fewer than 5 a yearMI–New York: fewer than 5 a yearNY–Massachusetts: fewer than 5 a yearMA–Oregon: fewer than 5 a yearOR–Nevada: fewer than 5 a yearNV–Wyoming: fewer than 5 a yearWY–South Dakota: fewer than 5 a yearSD–Iowa: fewer than 5 a yearIA–Indiana: fewer than 5 a yearIN–Ohio: fewer than 5 a yearOH–Pennsylvania: fewer than 5 a yearPA–New Jersey: fewer than 5 a yearNJ–Connecticut: fewer than 5 a yearCT–Rhode Island: fewer than 5 a yearRI–California: 0.00 per 1,000 babiesCA0.00Utah: fewer than 5 a yearUT–Colorado: fewer than 5 a yearCO–Nebraska: fewer than 5 a yearNE–Missouri: fewer than 5 a yearMO–Kentucky: fewer than 5 a yearKY–West Virginia: fewer than 5 a yearWV–Virginia: fewer than 5 a yearVA–Maryland: fewer than 5 a yearMD–Delaware: fewer than 5 a yearDE–Arizona: fewer than 5 a yearAZ–New Mexico: fewer than 5 a yearNM–Kansas: fewer than 5 a yearKS–Arkansas: fewer than 5 a yearAR–Tennessee: 0.03 per 1,000 babiesTN0.03North Carolina: fewer than 5 a yearNC–South Carolina: fewer than 5 a yearSC–District of Columbia: fewer than 5 a yearDC–Oklahoma: fewer than 5 a yearOK–Louisiana: fewer than 5 a yearLA–Mississippi: fewer than 5 a yearMS–Alabama: fewer than 5 a yearAL–Georgia: fewer than 5 a yearGA–Hawaii: fewer than 5 a yearHI–Texas: 0.02 per 1,000 babiesTX0.02Florida: 0.01 per 1,000 babiesFL0.01
Babies per 1,000 of the same sex, Keeli, girls, 2000–2004. Darker means more common.

Names with a similar history

These names rose and fell in step with Keeli: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Keeli, they share its era and feel.

Questions about the name Keeli

What does Keeli mean?

Keeli is a spelling of Kelly, usually explained as “descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.

How popular is the name Keeli?

Keeli was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked 2532nd; the most babies were born in 2002 (56). More babies were named Keeli in the 2000s than in any other decade.

Is Keeli a boy or girl name?

In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Keeli in the US.

Where was Keeli most popular?

In 2000–2004, Keeli was most common in Tennessee (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and Florida.