Kelley
Kelley was the 7322nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1968, when it ranked 168th with 1,918 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,401 places. More babies were named Kelley in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kelly) descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname) · Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #7,322 girls, down 2,715 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 15girls
- Girls and boys
- 58% girls, 42% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19681,918 babies
- Total since 1880
- 52,385babies recorded
What does the name Kelley mean?
Kelley 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)
Kelley popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,322 | #8,601 | 15 | 9 |
| 2020 | #4,607 | #5,846 | 29 | 15 |
| 2010 | #3,097 | #5,371 | 54 | 17 |
| 2000 | #1,024 | #2,893 | 206 | 31 |
| 1990 | #308 | #1,480 | 887 | 59 |
| 1980 | #236 | #839 | 1,084 | 111 |
| 1970 | #212 | #716 | 1,497 | 132 |
| 1960 | #289 | #627 | 1,004 | 155 |
| 1950 | #2,024 | #1,045 | 23 | 46 |
| 1940 | #4,709 | #1,239 | 5 | 30 |
| 1930 | — | #1,481 | — | 25 |
| 1920 | #5,359 | #1,026 | 5 | 46 |
| 1910 | — | #1,012 | — | 11 |
| 1900 | — | #609 | — | 17 |
| 1890 | — | #1,083 | — | 5 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Kelley, counting every spelling?
Kelley is a spelling of Kelly, a name family that ranked #726 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #7,322 for Kelley 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 Kelley?
15 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kelley (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Kelley 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 554 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kelley.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kelley?
About 42,700 people born in the US named Kelley are alive today, with a median age of 51; half are between 41 and 59. That makes Kelley 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 Kelley: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kelley, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kelley
What does Kelley mean?
Kelley is a spelling of Kelly, usually explained as “descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Kelley?
Kelley was the 7322nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1968, when it ranked 168th with 1,918 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,401 places. More babies were named Kelley in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Kelley a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 58% girls, 42% boys given the name Kelley in the US.