Given name & surname
Keeley
“a handsome man”·“a lively and bright-headed woman”
Keeley is a variant of Keely. One Irish interpretation is “a handsome man.” Keeley is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Keeley is a variant of Keely. One Irish interpretation is “a handsome man.” Keeley is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Keeley is a variant of Keely. An origin associated with Keely is Irish. Keeley is a variant of Kelly. Kelly has been associated with Irish Gaelic and Irish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From Irish Ó Caollaidhe (“descendant of Caollaidhe”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1957. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Keeley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,741
- 49 boys · 6,692 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 253 babies
- 2025
- 135
- #1,567 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +83%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 135 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,567 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 83.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 253 in 2007. In 2025, Ohio had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (11). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,771 as a first name in 2020; 5,125 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Keeley’s family of names
Keeley has a related form in Kelly. In English usage, Keeley has a related form in Kaylee. Keeley has a related form in Keely.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kayleevariant · English
- Kellyvariant
- Keelyvariant · English
- Keeleighvariant
- Kielyvariant · English
- Kealyvariant · English
- Kealeyvariant · English
- Keelleylikely variant
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Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Keeley
- Keeley HawesBritish actressborn 1976
- Keeley HazellEnglish modelborn 1986
- Keeley DowlingAmerican soccer playerborn 1983
- Keeley DavisAmerican musicianborn 1976
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Keeley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kinley
Kinley is a feminine given name from Scottish Gaelic.
1% boys · 99% girls
Kensley
Kensley is a feminine given name from Old English.
3% boys · 97% girls
Miley
“one who is merciful” · “a soldier”
>99% girls
Kayleigh
Kayleigh is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Keira
“little dark-haired one” · “having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% girls
Laney
“one who takes the narrow path”
>99% girls
Marley
“from the meadow near the lake”
13% boys · 87% girls
Kate
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls