Given name & surname · also Irish Gaelic
Kelly
“a lively and bright-headed woman”
Kelly is used as a given name and a surname. One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Original IrishÓ Ceallaigh
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Irish interpretation is “a lively and bright-headed woman.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Irish Gaelic and Irish naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kelly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 556,365
- 82,400 boys · 473,965 girls
- Most popular year
- 1968
- 20,197 babies
- 2025
- 403
- #852 for girls · #1,881 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 21% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 319 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 852 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 30.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 18,234 in 1977. It also appeared in 84 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (46). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 499,222 as a first name in 2020; 255,516 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.
Kelly’s family of names
In English usage, Kelly has a later derivative in Kelli. In English usage, Kelly has a related form in Kellie. In English usage, Kelly has a related form in Kelli.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kelly has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
Irishwhere Kelly comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 24
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kelly
- Kelly ClarksonAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1982)
- Kelly PrestonAmerican actress (1962–2020)
- Kelly BrookBritish actress and modelborn 1979
- Kelly MacdonaldScottish actressborn 1976
- Kelly HuAmerican actressborn 1968
- Kelly OsbourneBritish singer and actressborn 1984
- Kelly McGillisAmerican actressborn 1957
- Kelly HolmesBritish middle distance athlete and Olympic gold medallistborn 1970
- Kelly Marie TranAmerican actress (born 1989)
Characters named Kelly: Kelly Taylor (the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kelly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shannon
“having ancient wisdom; river name” · “having ancient wisdom”
32% boys · 68% girls
Meredith
“a great ruler; protector of the sea”
>99% girls
Leslie
“garden of hollies” · “from the holly garden; of the gray fortress”
7% boys · 93% girls
Lorna
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Lori
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Sheila
“one who is blind” · “one of cool conduct and character”
>99% girls
Moira
“share”
>99% girls
Carberry
“tree”
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