Kelly

Kelly - A very unique male name

Kelly appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #381. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Kelly and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Kelly? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Kelly. The baby boy name Kelly was given to 24 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2277 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 61,095 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Kelly peaked in popularity 58 years ago in 1968 on position 97.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Kelly, 1-5?

Kelly is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Kelly is currently topping the baby name charts in Pennsylvania at position #1,171 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,975.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Kelly is where you live.

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Kelly origin and meaning

Irish surname

Transferred Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh; the surname's own derivation is disputed, often linked to ceallach, 'strife'

Kelly is an Irish surname turned given name. For boys it peaked in 1967 and has fallen steadily since, as the name became predominantly feminine in American use.

Origin uncertain

Kelly is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Kelly, pop culture references for the name Kelly and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Kelly

We've found the following names that sound similar to Kelly, sorted by popularity.

Kyle / Khalil / Kole / Kale / Kylo / Kalel / Kahlil / Kael / Kelley / Kaleo /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Kelly

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Kelly a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Kelly?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

KEL-ee · /ˈkɛli/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Kelley — A spelling variant

Famous bearers

• Kelly Slater — Professional surfer, eleven-time world champion (b. 1972) Contemporary

Style

SurnameInternational

Why parents choose it

For a boy today Kelly is a contrarian classic — familiar, Irish-rooted, and now uncommon for sons.

Worth knowing

• Now read as a girls' name by most Americans; expect that assumption