Kelly Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Kelly is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Kelly?
Kelly is spelled K-E-L-L-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Kelly at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Kelly is derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, which means “descendant of Ceallach”.
- Origin
- Kelly is commonly associated with Irish origin as a surname that later became a popular given name.
- Pronunciation
- KEL-ee · 2 syllables
Kelly Popularity in 2025
Rank#851
Recorded Births319
Rank#1,867
Recorded Births84
- Girls usage rose 16 places to #851 and recorded 7 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 284 places to #1,867 and recorded 25 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Kelly Mean?
Kelly is derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, which means “descendant of Ceallach”. The personal name Ceallach may mean “war”, “strife”, or “bright-headed.”
Origin: Kelly is commonly associated with Irish origin as a surname that later became a popular given name.
How Do You Pronounce Kelly?
PronunciationKEL-ee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Kelly?
- History
- The name Kelly has historically been used as a surname in Ireland before becoming a unisex given name in English-speaking countries.
Kelly Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 319 | #851 |
| 2025 | Boys | 84 | #1,867 |
| 2024 | Girls | 312 | #867 |
| 2024 | Boys | 109 | #1,583 |
| 2023 | Girls | 362 | #779 |
| 2023 | Boys | 94 | #1,744 |
| 2022 | Girls | 347 | #808 |
| 2022 | Boys | 122 | #1,479 |
| 2021 | Girls | 324 | #850 |
| 2021 | Boys | 114 | #1,538 |
| 2020 | Girls | 366 | #745 |
| 2020 | Boys | 110 | #1,518 |
| 2019 | Girls | 448 | #652 |
| 2019 | Boys | 107 | #1,564 |
| 2018 | Girls | 486 | #618 |
| 2018 | Boys | 103 | #1,593 |
| 2017 | Girls | 504 | #597 |
| 2017 | Boys | 115 | #1,467 |
| 2016 | Girls | 605 | #515 |
| 2016 | Boys | 118 | #1,456 |
| 2015 | Girls | 675 | #480 |
| 2015 | Boys | 104 | #1,555 |
| 2014 | Girls | 740 | #432 |
| 2014 | Boys | 105 | #1,526 |
When Was Kelly Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1977 · Girls
18,234 recorded births
National rank #10
1968 · Girls
17,138 recorded births
National rank #12
1978 · Girls
16,976 recorded births
National rank #12
1969 · Girls
16,328 recorded births
National rank #15
Where Kelly Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #444 | 12 |
| MD | #459 | 11 |
| CT | #459 | 6 |
| NY | #462 | 37 |
| OK | #546 | 7 |
| SC | #560 | 8 |
| FL | #651 | 26 |
| CA | #675 | 46 |