Given name & surname
Kesley
“from the holly garden; of the gray fortress”
Kesley is a variant of Keslie. In American use, Keslie carries the interpretation “from the holly garden; of the gray fortress.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kesley is a variant of Keslie. In American use, Keslie carries the interpretation “from the holly garden; of the gray fortress.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kesley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 741
- 67 boys · 674 girls
- Most popular year
- 1990
- 41 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,688 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +2%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,688 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 35 in 1990. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 769 as a first name in 2020; a sample rank of No. 46,820 among surnames in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 5
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Kesley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kialey
>99% girls
Kaci
“a vigilant man; one who is alert” · “a vigilant woman”
7% boys · 93% girls
Caylene
>99% girls
Kaila
“crowned with laurel” · “a stylish man”
>99% girls
Karly
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Keneasha
>99% girls
Karli
“a free man” · “a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Hayley
“from the field of hay”
>99% girls