Given name & surname
Kelis
“a beautiful and talented woman”
Kelis is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “a beautiful and talented woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “a beautiful and talented woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2000. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kelis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,877
- 6 boys · 2,871 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 277 babies
- 2025
- 26
- #5,040 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 26 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,040 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 33.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 277 in 2007. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,067 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kelis’s family of names
Kelis has a related form in Keliss. Kelis has a related form in Kelisse. Kelis has a related form in Kelys.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Kelis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Charish
“a cherished woman”
>99% girls
Kamyra
“surrounded by light”
>99% girls
Kember
“a fun-loving woman”
>99% girls
Keydy
“a knowledgeable woman”
>99% girls
Halyn
“a unique young woman”
>99% girls
Jalia
“a noble woman”
>99% girls
Kindle
“to set fire; to arouse” · “to set aflame”
6% boys · 94% girls
Kimone
“a darling daughter”
>99% girls