Kelly
Kelly is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Bright-headed, warrior, or frequenter of churches.
Origin and history
Kelly is derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, traditionally understood to mean bright-headed or warrior. Once widely used for boys, it gained huge popularity as a female given name in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century. Though its usage for newborns has dropped in recent years, it remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
473,965 babies in the United States have been named Kelly since 1880. It ranks #70 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #784.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.1 %)
- NY (7.8 %)
- PA (6.6 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- IL (5.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 17 |
| 1910-1920 | 73 |
| 1920-1930 | 118 |
| 1930-1940 | 127 |
| 1940-1950 | 559 |
| 1950-1960 | 15,358 |
| 1960-1970 | 128,053 |
| 1970-1980 | 133,545 |
| 1980-1990 | 109,539 |
| 1990-2000 | 55,724 |
| 2000-2010 | 21,618 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,204 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,030 |
Famous people named Kelly
- Kelly Clarkson: Singer, TV Host
- Kelly Ripa: Talk Show Host, Actress
- Kelly Rowland: Singer, Actress
Nicknames
Kell, Kel
Fun facts
- Kelly originated as an Irish Gaelic patronymic surname before transitioning into a unisex given name.
- Kelly ranked among the top 10 most popular names for girls in the United States during the late 1970s.