Kelly Overview
Warrior, war, lively, bright-headed
Girl, Gender-neutral
Irish
Derived from the Gaelic surname “Ó Ceallaigh” meaning “descendant of Ceallach”.
Christianity
/ˈkɛli/
Kelly was very popular in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States and remains a common name today.
2 syllables
5 letters
2 (Cooperative, Adaptable, Considerate)
Traditional, Cool, Vintage, Classic
Friendly, creative, and adaptable.
Kelly Variations in Different Cultures
Kelli, Kellie, Kellye, Kelleigh, Kallie, Kelley
Kel, Kell, Kells, Kellz, Kelis, Kelina, Lelly, Kelbele, Kellis
Kelli, Kellie, Kell
What Is the Meaning of Kelly?
The name Kelly means “warrior,” “war,” “lively,” or “bright-headed.” It conveys a sense of strength and clarity. Ones who have this name are often thought to be strong, energetic, and full of life​.
What Is the Origin of The Name Kelly?
Kelly originates from Ireland. It is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic surname “Ó Ceallaigh,” which translates to “descendant of Ceallach.” Historically, it was a surname before becoming a popular first name​.
Kelly Name Popularity
Popularity Chart of the Name Kelly in the U.S. over the Years
 United States | #8492021 | #8072022 | #7732023 |
| Top 3 Rankings | #101977 | #121968 | #121978 |
Annual Statistics Breakdown for Kelly
| Year | Name Ranking | Number of Births | Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 773 (+34 from 2022) | 362 (+15 from 2022) | 0.02070 |
| 2022 | 807 (+42 from 2021) | 347 (+23 from 2021) | 0.01935 |
| 2021 | 849 (-104 from 2020) | 324 (-42 from 2020) | 0.01808 |
| 2020 | 745 (-90 from 2019) | 366 (-80 from 2019) | 0.02070 |
| 2019 | 655 (-37 from 2018) | 446 (-39 from 2018) | 0.02431 |
| 2018 | 618 (-20 from 2017) | 485 (-18 from 2017) | 0.02608 |
| 2017 | 598 (-83 from 2016) | 503 (-101 from 2016) | 0.02663 |
| 2016 | 515 (-37 from 2015) | 604 (-71 from 2015) | 0.03120 |
| 2015 | 478 (-46 from 2014) | 675 (-64 from 2014) | 0.03460 |
| 2014 | 432 (-63 from 2013) | 739 (-109 from 2013) | 0.03777 |
| 2013 | 369 (-12 from 2012) | 848 (-44 from 2012) | 0.04399 |
| 2012 | 357 (-21 from 2011) | 892 (-52 from 2011) | 0.04599 |
| 2011 | 336 (-30 from 2010) | 944 (-117 from 2010) | 0.04872 |
| 2010 | 306 (-46 from 2009) | 1061 (-190 from 2009) | 0.05411 |
| 2009 | 260 (-12 from 2008) | 1251 (-148 from 2008) | 0.06178 |
| 2008 | 248 (-26 from 2007) | 1399 (-169 from 2007) | 0.06717 |
| 2007 | 222 (-10 from 2006) | 1568 (-43 from 2006) | 0.07408 |
| 2006 | 212 (-37 from 2005) | 1611 (-341 from 2005) | 0.07706 |
| 2005 | 175 (-37 from 2004) | 1952 (-405 from 2004) | 0.09618 |
| 2004 | 138 (-13 from 2003) | 2357 (-379 from 2003) | 0.11681 |
| 2003 | 125 (-6 from 2002) | 2736 (-116 from 2002) | 0.13636 |
| 2002 | 119 (+5 from 2001) | 2852 (+38 from 2001) | 0.14440 |
| 2001 | 124 (-13 from 2000) | 2814 (-262 from 2000) | 0.14205 |
| 2000 | 111 (-16 from 1999) | 3076 (-344 from 1999) | 0.15413 |
| 1999 | 95 (-6 from 1998) | 3420 (-283 from 1998) | 0.17567 |
| 1998 | 89 (-6 from 1997) | 3703 (-360 from 1997) | 0.19102 |
| 1997 | 83 (-10 from 1996) | 4063 (-671 from 1996) | 0.21281 |
| 1996 | 73 (-9 from 1995) | 4734 (-664 from 1995) | 0.24692 |
| 1995 | 64 (-2 from 1994) | 5398 (-47 from 1994) | 0.28092 |
| 1994 | 62 (-11 from 1993) | 5445 (-850 from 1993) | 0.27932 |
| 1993 | 51 (-4 from 1992) | 6295 (-717 from 1992) | 0.31929 |
| 1992 | 47 (-5 from 1991) | 7012 (-502 from 1991) | 0.34978 |
| 1991 | 42 (-1 from 1990) | 7514 (-622 from 1990) | 0.36952 |
| 1990 | 41 (-4 from 1989) | 8136 (-624 from 1989) | 0.39603 |
| 1989 | 37 (-5 from 1988) | 8760 (-155 from 1988) | 0.43972 |
| 1988 | 32 (-2 from 1987) | 8915 (-951 from 1987) | 0.46357 |
| 1987 | 30 (-1 from 1986) | 9866 (-545 from 1986) | 0.52641 |
| 1986 | 29 (-1 from 1985) | 10411 (-620 from 1985) | 0.56413 |
| 1985 | 28 (-1 from 1984) | 11031 (-187 from 1984) | 0.59746 |
| 1984 | 27 (-1 from 1983) | 11218 (-369 from 1983) | 0.62208 |
| 1983 | 26 (-1 from 1982) | 11587 (-583 from 1982) | 0.64744 |
| 1982 | 25 (-2 from 1981) | 12170 (+297 from 1981) | 0.67079 |
| 1981 | 23 (-4 from 1980) | 11873 (-1837 from 1980) | 0.66385 |
| 1980 | 19 (-3 from 1979) | 13710 (-1586 from 1979) | 0.76995 |
| 1979 | 16 (-4 from 1978) | 15296 (-1682 from 1978) | 0.88761 |
| 1978 | 12 (-2 from 1977) | 16978 (-1256 from 1977) | 1.03279 |
| 1977 | 10 (+9 from 1976) | 18234 (+6443 from 1976) | 1.10845 |
| 1976 | 19 (-3 from 1975) | 11791 (+54 from 1975) | 0.75011 |
| 1975 | 16 (-1 from 1974) | 11737 (+888 from 1974) | 0.75195 |
| 1974 | 15 (+3 from 1973) | 10849 (+335 from 1973) | 0.69267 |
| 1973 | 18 (+5 from 1972) | 10514 (-429 from 1972) | 0.67653 |
| 1972 | 23 (-1 from 1971) | 10943 (-1656 from 1971) | 0.67861 |
| 1971 | 22 (-2 from 1970) | 12599 (-2008 from 1970) | 0.71888 |
| 1970 | 20 (-5 from 1969) | 14607 (-1720 from 1969) | 0.79739 |
| 1969 | 15 (-3 from 1968) | 16327 (-813 from 1968) | 0.92623 |
| 1968 | 12 (+11 from 1967) | 17140 (+3423 from 1967) | 1.00252 |
| 1967 | 23 (+3 from 1966) | 13717 (+474 from 1966) | 0.79897 |
| 1966 | 26 (+4 from 1965) | 13243 (+482 from 1965) | 0.75426 |
| 1965 | 30 (+5 from 1964) | 12761 (+290 from 1964) | 0.69829 |
| 1964 | 35 (-3 from 1963) | 12471 (-77 from 1963) | 0.63713 |
| 1963 | 32 (+6 from 1962) | 12548 (+1019 from 1962) | 0.63116 |
| 1962 | 38 (+7 from 1961) | 11529 (+1886 from 1961) | 0.56880 |
| 1961 | 45 (+7 from 1960) | 9643 (+969 from 1960) | 0.46424 |
| 1960 | 52 (+22 from 1959) | 8674 (+2296 from 1959) | 0.41707 |
| 1959 | 74 (+34 from 1958) | 6378 (+1905 from 1958) | 0.30684 |
| 1958 | 108 (+79 from 1957) | 4473 (+2570 from 1957) | 0.21653 |
| 1957 | 187 (+122 from 1956) | 1903 (+1073 from 1956) | 0.09070 |
| 1956 | 309 (+71 from 1955) | 830 (+291 from 1955) | 0.04030 |
| 1955 | 380 (+26 from 1954) | 539 (+86 from 1954) | 0.02688 |
| 1954 | 406 (+184 from 1953) | 453 (+227 from 1953) | 0.02275 |
| 1953 | 590 (-100 from 1952) | 226 (-70 from 1952) | 0.01171 |
| 1952 | 490 (+191 from 1951) | 296 (+132 from 1951) | 0.01556 |
| 1951 | 681 (+219 from 1950) | 164 (+67 from 1950) | 0.00888 |
| 1950 | 900 (-96 from 1949) | 97 (-20 from 1949) | 0.00552 |
| 1949 | 804 (+151 from 1948) | 117 (+34 from 1948) | 0.00666 |
| 1948 | 955 (+83 from 1947) | 83 (+10 from 1947) | 0.00476 |
| 1947 | 1038 (+170 from 1946) | 73 (+22 from 1946) | 0.00402 |
| 1946 | 1208 (-108 from 1945) | 51 No change from 1945 | 0.00316 |
| 1945 | 1100 (-95 from 1944) | 51 (-9 from 1944) | 0.00379 |
| 1944 | 1005 (+362 from 1943) | 60 (+24 from 1943) | 0.00439 |
| 1943 | 1367 (-18 from 1942) | 36 No change from 1942 | 0.00251 |
| 1942 | 1349 (+123 from 1941) | 36 (+8 from 1941) | 0.00259 |
| 1941 | 1472 (+119 from 1940) | 28 (+4 from 1940) | 0.00225 |
| 1940 | 1591 (+1145 from 1939) | 24 (+14 from 1939) | 0.00203 |
| 1939 | 2736 (-863 from 1938) | 10 (-8 from 1938) | 0.00088 |
| 1938 | 1873 (+323 from 1937) | 18 (+4 from 1937) | 0.00158 |
| 1937 | 2196 (+67 from 1936) | 14 (+1 from 1936) | 0.00127 |
| 1936 | 2263 (+42 from 1935) | 13 No change from 1935 | 0.00121 |
| 1935 | 2305 (+261 from 1934) | 13 (+2 from 1934) | 0.00120 |
| 1934 | 2566 (-162 from 1933) | 11 (-1 from 1933) | 0.00102 |
| 1933 | 2404 (-169 from 1932) | 12 (-2 from 1932) | 0.00115 |
| 1932 | 2235 (+737 from 1931) | 14 (+5 from 1931) | 0.00127 |
| 1931 | 2972 (-546 from 1930) | 9 (-4 from 1930) | 0.00082 |
| 1930 | 2426 (+311 from 1929) | 13 (+2 from 1929) | 0.00111 |
| 1929 | 2737 (+31 from 1928) | 11 No change from 1928 | 0.00095 |
| 1928 | 2768 (+285 from 1927) | 11 (+1 from 1927) | 0.00092 |
| 1927 | 3053 (-345 from 1926) | 10 (-2 from 1926) | 0.00081 |
| 1926 | 2708 (-330 from 1925) | 12 (-3 from 1925) | 0.00098 |
| 1925 | 2378 (+766 from 1924) | 15 (+5 from 1924) | 0.00119 |
| 1924 | 3144 (-18 from 1923) | 10 No change from 1923 | 0.00077 |
| 1923 | 3126 (-514 from 1922) | 10 (-3 from 1922) | 0.00080 |
| 1922 | 2612 (-234 from 1921) | 13 (-2 from 1921) | 0.00104 |
| 1921 | 2378 (+521 from 1920) | 15 (+4 from 1920) | 0.00117 |
| 1920 | 2899 (+553 from 1919) | 11 (+3 from 1919) | 0.00088 |
| 1919 | 3452 (-1076 from 1918) | 8 (-6 from 1918) | 0.00068 |
| 1918 | 2376 (+968 from 1917) | 14 (+6 from 1917) | 0.00116 |
| 1917 | 3344 (-314 from 1916) | 8 (-1 from 1916) | 0.00071 |
| 1916 | 3030 (+1244 from 1915) | 9 (+4 from 1915) | 0.00083 |
| 1915 | 4274 (-2149 from 1914) | 5 (-6 from 1914) | 0.00049 |
| 1914 | 2125 (+235 from 1912) | 11 (+4 from 1912) | 0.00138 |
| 1913 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1912 | 2360 (+103 from 1911) | 7 (+2 from 1911) | 0.00119 |
| 1911 | 2463 (-323 from 1910) | 5 (-1 from 1910) | 0.00113 |
| 1910 | 2140 (-377 from 1909) | 6 (-1 from 1909) | 0.00143 |
| 1909 | 1763 (+338 from 1908) | 7 (+2 from 1908) | 0.00190 |
| 1908 | 2101 (-40 from 1907) | 5 No change from 1907 | 0.00141 |
| 1907 | 2061 First SSA data recorded | 5 First SSA data recorded | 0.00148 |
| 1906 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1905 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1904 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1903 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1902 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1901 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1900 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1899 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1898 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1897 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1896 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1895 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1894 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1893 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1892 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1891 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1890 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1889 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1888 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1887 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1886 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1885 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1884 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1883 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1882 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1881 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
| 1880 | 0 No SSA data | 0 No SSA data | 0.0000 |
American States Popularity Rankings for Kelly
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )California (CA)
 California (CA) | #7242021 | #7702022 | #7272023 |
New York (NY)
 New York (NY) | #5892021 | #5122022 | #6322023 |
Pennsylvania (PA)
 Pennsylvania (PA) | #7232021 | #5642022 | #4862023 |
Ohio (OH)
 Ohio (OH) | #11102021 | #9132022 | #12032023 |
Illinois (IL)
 Illinois (IL) | #9622021 | #10982022 | #6592023 |
Michigan (MI)
 Michigan (MI) | #9672018 | #13432021 | #11352022 |
Texas (TX)
 Texas (TX) | #7822021 | #8022022 | #8882023 |
New Jersey (NJ)
 New Jersey (NJ) | #6142021 | #4982022 | #5422023 |
Florida (FL)
 Florida (FL) | #6482021 | #6002022 | #6472023 |
Massachusetts (MA)
 Massachusetts (MA) | #5592020 | #7142021 | #6942023 |
Wisconsin (WI)
 Wisconsin (WI) | #8112016 | #8032019 | #8822020 |
Indiana (IN)
 Indiana (IN) | #7082016 | #11412018 | #8682023 |
Minnesota (MN)
 Minnesota (MN) | #9612016 | #9522017 | #9422019 |
Missouri (MO)
 Missouri (MO) | #4972017 | #5852018 | #10162021 |
North Carolina (NC)
 North Carolina (NC) | #9982021 | #7492022 | #9722023 |
Virginia (VA)
 Virginia (VA) | #7072021 | #7662022 | #4672023 |
Maryland (MD)
 Maryland (MD) | #6112021 | #5782022 | #6382023 |
Georgia (GA)
 Georgia (GA) | #6562021 | #10302022 | #12682023 |
Washington (WA)
 Washington (WA) | #11962021 | #5612022 | #8122023 |
Connecticut (CT)
 Connecticut (CT) | #5532019 | #5212021 | #5822023 |
Tennessee (TN)
 Tennessee (TN) | #9082019 | #10552021 | #7272022 |
Iowa (IA)
 Iowa (IA) | #6402014 | #6542015 | #5472017 |
Louisiana (LA)
 Louisiana (LA) | #9342018 | #7972019 | #8992023 |
Kentucky (KY)
 Kentucky (KY) | #6012019 | #6122020 | #6892023 |
Colorado (CO)
 Colorado (CO) | #9562019 | #9582021 | #8392023 |
Alabama (AL)
 Alabama (AL) | #6012020 | #9472022 | #5422023 |
Arizona (AZ)
 Arizona (AZ) | #9812019 | #7362022 | #10182023 |
South Carolina (SC)
 South Carolina (SC) | #8282018 | #7172020 | #7412021 |
Oklahoma (OK)
 Oklahoma (OK) | #6052013 | #8092019 | #7932022 |
Kansas (KS)
 Kansas (KS) | #5792015 | #3532016 | #5322023 |
Oregon (OR)
 Oregon (OR) | #6202016 | #5262017 | #5752023 |
West Virginia (WV)
 West Virginia (WV) | #3672010 | #3682012 | #3592014 |
Nebraska (NE)
 Nebraska (NE) | #4562012 | #4682013 | #4912017 |
Arkansas (AR)
 Arkansas (AR) | #6232010 | #6182012 | #5222016 |
Maine (ME)
 Maine (ME) | #1162002 | #2032003 | #2082004 |
Mississippi (MS)
 Mississippi (MS) | #6202015 | #4582016 | #6172019 |
New Hampshire (NH)
 New Hampshire (NH) | #2552005 | #2632006 | #2232007 |
Utah (UT)
 Utah (UT) | #6972014 | #6832016 | #6192020 |
District of Columbia (DC)
 District of Columbia (DC) | #2232013 | #2812014 | #2792015 |
Rhode Island (RI)
 Rhode Island (RI) | #1552005 | #2192008 | #1472009 |
New Mexico (NM)
 New Mexico (NM) | #4602012 | #3652013 | #3282014 |
Delaware (DE)
 Delaware (DE) | #1402008 | #2172011 | #1472012 |
Montana (MT)
 Montana (MT) | #1591998 | #1871999 | #2032000 |
Hawaii (HI)
 Hawaii (HI) | #1192004 | #1042005 | #2572010 |
Idaho (ID)
 Idaho (ID) | #2932011 | #3802013 | #3022023 |
Nevada (NV)
 Nevada (NV) | #5932015 | #6212016 | #5752019 |
North Dakota (ND)
 North Dakota (ND) | #1461997 | #1381999 | #1582002 |
Vermont (VT)
 Vermont (VT) | #661996 | #1091999 | #992002 |
South Dakota (SD)
 South Dakota (SD) | #1921999 | #1872000 | #1282001 |
Alaska (AK)
 Alaska (AK) | #1372000 | #1072005 | #1292006 |
Wyoming (WY)
 Wyoming (WY) | #1191993 | #581995 | #942001 |
Popularity Rankings for Kelly in other Countries and American Territories
(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)
Popularity in Australia (NSW)
 Australia (NSW) | #831992 | #831993 | #991995 |
Popularity in Belgium
 Belgium | #1012002 | #1182003 | #1182004 |
Popularity in Portugal
 Portugal | #1412016 | #1362017 | #1322018 |
Popularity in Puerto Rico
 Puerto Rico | #2322011 | #2462012 | #1692013 |
Popularity in France
 France | #1792010 | #1752011 | #1892012 |
Popularity in Quebec, Canada
 Quebec, Canada | #2112020 | #2072021 | #3082022 |
Popularity in Iceland
 Iceland | #2972022 |
Popularity in Sweden
 Sweden | #3262022 | #3022023 |
Popularity in Switzerland
 Switzerland | #4042020 | #3922021 | #3392022 |
Popularity in Northern Ireland
 Northern Ireland | #3652014 | #4242019 | #4462021 |
Popularity in New Zealand
 New Zealand | #3972017 | #4242018 | #3682020 |
Popularity in Ireland
 Ireland | #4642021 | #6342022 | #4042023 |
Popularity in Scotland
 Scotland | #4602008 | #4242010 | #4772014 |
Popularity in Poland
 Poland | #4292013 | #7342014 | #5002016 |
Popularity in Norway
 Norway | #5802007 | #5612012 | #4622019 |
Popularity in Canada
 Canada | #4652020 | #7742021 | #9642022 |
Popularity in England and Wales
 England and Wales | #8542013 | #8772014 | #9552016 |
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources
Is Kelly a Name for Boys or Girls?
Kelly is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls. While it was originally more common for boys, it has become more popular for girls since the mid-20th century.