Keli
Keli is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Bright-headed, warrior, or pure.
Origin and history
Keli is a given name primarily used as a modern phonetic spelling variant of Kelly (from Gaelic) or as a short form of Kelli/Katherine (from Greek). It gained popularity in the late 20th century in the United States alongside similar concise spellings ending in -i. In contemporary birth records, it remains relatively uncommon.
Popularity in the United States
4,356 babies in the United States have been named Keli since 1880. It ranks #2662 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2069.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18.3 %)
- TX (16.1 %)
- OH (9.1 %)
- IL (8.9 %)
- OK (7.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 98 |
| 1960-1970 | 849 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,285 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,258 |
| 1990-2000 | 553 |
| 2000-2010 | 220 |
| 2010-2019 | 61 |
| 2020-2029 | 32 |
Famous people named Keli
- Keli McGregor: Sports Executive, American Football Player
Fun facts
- Keli evolved as an alternative spelling of Kelly or Kelli during the peak of the name's U.S. popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.
- The name experienced its highest national usage in the late 20th century before becoming a rare choice in recent years.