Keelie
Keelie was the 9163rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 11 babies. Its best year was 2007, when it ranked 2496th with 75 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,372 places. More babies were named Keelie in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kelly) descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname) · Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #9,163 girls, down 483 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 11girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 200775 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,516babies recorded
What does the name Keelie mean?
Keelie 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
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kelly', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ceallach', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wikidata item Q3664058 ('Kelly' given name), Wikidata (CC0)
Keelie popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,163 | 11 |
| 2020 | #8,680 | 12 |
| 2010 | #2,740 | 65 |
| 2000 | #3,097 | 45 |
| 1990 | #4,167 | 24 |
| 1980 | #5,093 | 14 |
| 1970 | #4,134 | 14 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Keelie, counting every spelling?
Keelie is a spelling of Kelly, a name family that ranked #726 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #9,163 for Keelie on its own. Together these spellings went to 389 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly | 319 | #852 | 1,664 |
| Kelli | 17 | #6,690 | 101 |
| Kellie | 19 | #6,222 | 100 |
| Kelley | 15 | #7,322 | 86 |
| Keelie | 11 | #9,163 | 68 |
| Keli | 8 | #11,424 | 26 |
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 many kids will share the name Keelie?
11 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Keelie (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Keelie born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 750 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Keelie.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Keelie?
About 1,500 people born in the US named Keelie are alive today, with a median age of 21; half are between 16 and 29. That makes Keelie mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Keelie: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Keelie, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Keelie
What does Keelie mean?
Keelie is a spelling of Kelly, usually explained as “descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Keelie?
Keelie was the 9163rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 11 babies. Its best year was 2007, when it ranked 2496th with 75 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,372 places. More babies were named Keelie in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Keelie a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Keelie in the US.