Keli
Keli was the 11424th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked 825th with 190 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,045 places. More babies were named Keli in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kelly) descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname) · Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #11,424 girls, up 2,868 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 8girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1979190 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,405babies recorded
What does the name Keli mean?
Keli 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)
Keli popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 49 since 1975.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,424 | 8 |
| 2020 | #14,292 | 6 |
| 2010 | #10,131 | 11 |
| 2000 | #5,233 | 22 |
| 1990 | #1,712 | 86 |
| 1980 | #890 | 172 |
| 1970 | #1,091 | 109 |
| 1960 | #1,709 | 44 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Keli, counting every spelling?
Keli is a spelling of Kelly, a name family that ranked #726 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #11,424 for Keli 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 Keli?
8 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Keli (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Keli 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 1,057 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Keli.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Keli?
About 4,100 people born in the US named Keli are alive today, with a median age of 46; half are between 38 and 55. That makes Keli mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
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 Keli: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Keli, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Keli
What does Keli mean?
Keli is a spelling of Kelly, usually explained as “descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Keli?
Keli was the 11424th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1979, when it ranked 825th with 190 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,045 places. More babies were named Keli in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Keli a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Keli in the US.