Kelly
A girls’ name of Irish origin, meaning bright-headed or warrior; from O Ceallaigh.
How Kelly has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #479 |
| 2016 | #515 |
| 2017 | #598 |
| 2018 | #618 |
| 2019 | #655 |
| 2020 | #746 |
| 2021 | #850 |
| 2022 | #805 |
| 2023 | #773 |
| 2024 | #868 |
| 2025 | #852 |
Kelly by the numbers
In 2025, 14 babies in England and Wales were named Kelly. In the US, 610 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 18,235 babies in 1977, so it is a 1970s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1970, about 1 in 130 American girls born that year was called Kelly.
Names that come from Kelly
Forms of Kelly in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Kelly. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Keelybeautiful; a form of Keelia or Keeley79 in the US (2017)
- Kelbyfrom the farm by the spring; dwelling by the spring42 in the US (2017)
- Kelleybright-headed or descended from Ceallach; a form of Kelly38 in the US (2017)
- Kellibright-headed; a spelling variant of Kelly30 in the US (2017)
- Kellynbright-headed; a respelling of Kelly30 in the US (2017)
- Kallybeautiful; a form of Cally or Callie14 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Kelly
Names that are said the same way as Kelly, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean light
Like Kelly, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Other names that mean a warrior
Like Kelly, each of these has a warrior in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Rydermounted warrior, cavalry soldier3,324 in the US (2017)
- Finleyfair-haired warrior1,733 in England and Wales (2025)
- Matildamighty in battle1,449 in England and Wales (2025)
- Sloanewarrior, raider; from Sloan1,405 in the US (2017)
- Maeveshe who intoxicates; a warrior queen1,330 in England and Wales (2025)
- Harlowrocky hill or army hill832 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Kelly
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