Kelsey
Kelsey is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Cenel's island or ship's victory island.
Origin and history
Kelsey is derived from an English surname based on place names in Lincolnshire, originating from Old English personal names combined with 'eg', meaning island or dry land. It gained widespread popularity as a given name in the United States during the late 20th century. Although used for all genders, it has been most commonly given to girls since the 1980s.
Popularity in the United States
150,416 babies in the United States have been named Kelsey since 1880. It ranks #263 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #633.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.2 %)
- TX (6.5 %)
- OH (5 %)
- IL (4.6 %)
- PA (4.5 %)
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 | 41 |
| 1950-1960 | 139 |
| 1960-1970 | 226 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,111 |
| 1980-1990 | 27,758 |
| 1990-2000 | 85,134 |
| 2000-2010 | 23,380 |
| 2010-2019 | 9,901 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,726 |
Famous people named Kelsey
- Kelsey Ballerini: Singer, Songwriter
- Kelsey Plum: Athlete, Basketball Player
- Kelsey Chow: Actress
Nicknames
Kels, Kelsie
Fun facts
- Kelsey peaked in popularity in the United States during the early 1990s, reaching the top 20 female names.
- Before becoming a popular given name, Kelsey was primarily an English family surname derived from place names in Lincolnshire.