Given name & surname
Kelli
“a lively and bright-headed woman”·“a warrior”·“one who defends”
Kelli is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.” Kelli is a variant of Kelley. Interpretations include “a warrior” and “one who defends”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kelli is a variant of Kelly. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.” Kelli is a variant of Kelley. Interpretations include “a warrior” and “one who defends”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Kelli is a variant of Kelly. Kelly has been associated with Irish Gaelic and Irish naming traditions. Kelli is a variant of Kelley. An origin associated with Kelley is Celtic.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Estonian usage, Kelli developed from Kelly.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1945. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kelli through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 75,192
- 301 boys · 74,891 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 3,344 babies
- 2025
- 17
- #6,690 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −43%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 17 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,690 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 43.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 3,331 in 1970. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 66,659 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.
Kelli’s family of names
In Estonian usage, Kelli developed from the English form Kelly. Kelli has a related form in Kelley. Kelli has a related form in Kelly.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Around the world
Kelli has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Kelli
- Kelli BerglundAmerican actress, dancer, and singer (born 1996)
- Kelli GarnerAmerican actressborn 1984
- Kelli McCartyAmerican actress and modelborn 1969
- Kelli WilliamsAmerican actressborn 1970
- Kelli GiddishAmerican actressborn 1980
- Kelli O'HaraAmerican actress and singerborn 1976
- Kelli MaroneyAmerican actressborn 1960
- Kelli BarrettAmerican actressborn 1984
- Kelli StackAmerican women's ice hockey playerborn 1988
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kelli, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kellie
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
>99% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Cami
“crooked nose”
>99% girls
Neely
“the champion” · “a champion”
>99% girls
Kenya
“an innocent; from the country of Kenya”
2% boys · 98% girls
Kimberlee
“of the royal fortress”
>99% girls
Shelly
“from the bank's meadow” · “from the meadow's ledge”
>99% girls
Corinna
“a spear-wielding woman”
>99% girls