Kelly
Kelly was the 852nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 319 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 10th with 18,234 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 372 places. More babies were named Kelly in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname) · Irish
Say it KEL-ee /ˈkɛli/
- Rank in 2025
- #852 girls, down 106 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 319girls
- Girls and boys
- 76% girls, 24% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 197718,234 babies
- Total since 1880
- 556,365babies recorded
What does the name Kelly mean?
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)
Kelly popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #852 | #1,881 | 319 | 84 |
| 2020 | #746 | #1,520 | 366 | 110 |
| 2010 | #306 | #1,571 | 1,061 | 101 |
| 2000 | #111 | #799 | 3,077 | 202 |
| 1990 | #41 | #351 | 8,137 | 687 |
| 1980 | #19 | #210 | 13,710 | 1,183 |
| 1970 | #20 | #135 | 14,607 | 2,494 |
| 1960 | #52 | #128 | 8,673 | 2,934 |
| 1950 | #904 | #307 | 97 | 488 |
| 1940 | #1,613 | #485 | 24 | 142 |
| 1930 | #2,485 | #556 | 13 | 117 |
| 1920 | #3,002 | #566 | 11 | 121 |
| 1910 | #2,286 | #386 | 6 | 46 |
| 1900 | — | #390 | — | 33 |
| 1890 | — | #621 | — | 11 |
| 1880 | — | #995 | — | 5 |
How popular is Kelly, counting every spelling?
Kelly is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #726 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #852 for Kelly 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 Kelly?
319 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kelly (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Kelly 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 26 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kelly.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kelly?
About 442,700 people born in the US named Kelly are alive today, with a median age of 48; half are between 39 and 58. That makes Kelly 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.
Kelly by state
How common Kelly was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Maryland (2.1×), Connecticut (1.8×), New Jersey (1.8×), New York (1.8×), Virginia (1.7×). In 21 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kelly: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kelly, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Kelly · Sibling names for Kelly
Questions about the name Kelly
What does Kelly mean?
Kelly is usually explained as “descendant of Ceallach (Irish surname)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Kelly?
Kelly was the 852nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 319 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it ranked 10th with 18,234 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 372 places. More babies were named Kelly in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Kelly a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 76% girls, 24% boys given the name Kelly in the US.
Where is Kelly most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kelly was most common in Maryland (0.42 per 1,000 girls), followed by Connecticut and New Jersey.