Given name & surname · also Celtic
Kelley
“a warrior”·“one who defends”
Kelley is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a warrior” and “one who defends”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a warrior” and “one who defends”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Celtic.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kelley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 52,385
- 6,286 boys · 46,099 girls
- Most popular year
- 1968
- 2,086 babies
- 2025
- 24
- #7,322 for girls · #8,601 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 41% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 15 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,322 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,918 in 1968. It also appeared in 9 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 45,163 as a first name in 2020; 137,250 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.
Kelley’s family of names
In French usage, Kelley has a related form in Kelly. Kelley has a related form in Kelly. Kelley has a related form in Kelli.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Kelley
- Kelley O'HaraAmerican soccer playerborn 1988
- Kelley HurleyAmerican épée fencerborn 1988
- Kelley ArmstrongCanadian writer (1968-)
- Kelley DealAmerican musicianborn 1961
- Kelley MackAmerican actress (1992–2025)
- Kelley LawCanadian female curlerborn 1966
- Kelley JakleAmerican actress, singer, and songwriterborn 1989
- Kelley CainAmerican basketball player (born 1989)
- Kelley RobinsonAmerican community organizer and president of Human Rights Campaign
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kelley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kelby
“from the waters” · “from the farm near the spring”
60% boys · 40% girls
Kasey
“a vigilant woman” · “vigilant, wakeful”
44% boys · 56% girls
Kacey
“a vigilant man; one who is alert”
42% boys · 58% girls
Keelin
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a slender and beautiful woman”
56% boys · 44% girls
Daley
“of the assembly”
36% boys · 64% girls
Conley
“one who is pure; chaste”
63% boys · 37% girls
Tracey
“a woman warrior” · “one who is brave”
33% boys · 67% girls
Reilly
“an outgoing man”
46% boys · 54% girls