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Kelly as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kelly

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The baby name Kelly is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɛli/ (KEL-ee).

Kelly is Irish in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: /ˈkɛli/ (KEL-ee)

What is the meaning of the name Kelly ?

The baby name Kelly is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɛli/ (KEL-ee).

Kelly is Irish in Origin.

Kelly is the Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning “descendant of Ceallach.” The personal name Ceallach has debated roots: some link it to Old Irish ceall “church/monastery,” yielding senses like “church-associated” or “frequenter of churches”; others derive it from ceallach “strife, warlike.” The O’Kellys of Uí Maine were a powerful medieval dynasty, helping to spread the surname widely across Ireland before it migrated into English usage.

As a given name, Kelly emerged in the Anglophone world in the 19th century, initially more common for boys. It became a leading unisex choice in the mid-20th century, with a pronounced rise for girls influenced by film star and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly. Today it remains familiar for all genders, though feminine use predominates. Variants include Kelley, Kellie, Kelli, and Kellee; Irish forms are Ó Ceallaigh (O’Kelly). Nickname: Kel.

Kelly has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kelly

Kelly Clarkson Actor · Born 1982 · United States Kelly Clarkson is a well-known American singer and television personality who gained fame after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002. She is best known for her hit songs like 'Since U Been Gone' and 'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)'. Clarkson has also served as a coach on the television show The Voice. Kelly Preston Actor · Born 1962 · United States Kelly Preston was an American actress best known for her roles in films like 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Twins'. She often played charming and engaging characters, leaving a memorable mark on Hollywood. Preston was also married to actor John Travolta. Kelly Macdonald Actor · Born 1976 · United Kingdom Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actor best known for her role as Diane in the film Trainspotting. She also gained recognition for her performances in No Country for Old Men and the TV series Boardwalk Empire. Her versatile acting has made her a prominent figure in both film and television.
Kelly Hu Actor · Born 1968 · United States Kelly Hu is an American actor best known for her role as Lady Deathstrike in the film X2: X-Men United. She also appeared in The Scorpion King alongside Dwayne Johnson and had a recurring role in the TV series Arrow. Born in 1968, she has been a prominent figure in both film and television. Kelly Osbourne Actor · Born 1984 · United Kingdom Kelly Osbourne is best known for starring in the reality TV show 'The Osbournes', which followed her family's life. She is also a singer and released the album 'Shut Up' in 2002. Additionally, Kelly has appeared as a panelist on shows like 'Fashion Police'. Kelly McGillis Actor · Born 1957 · United States Kelly McGillis is an American actor best known for her role as Charlie in the classic film Top Gun. She also starred in Witness alongside Harrison Ford and The Accused with Jodie Foster. Born in 1957, she has had a successful career in both film and television.

Celebrity babies named Kelly

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Kelly Carlin George Carlin television actor ★★★★★
Kelly Curtis Janet Leigh television actor ★★★★★ Tony Curtis television actor ★★★★★
Kelly Cates Kenny Dalglish association footballer ★★★★★
Kelly Anne Clark Lynn Redgrave television actor ★★★★★ John Clark film director ★★★★★
Kelly Pfaff Jean-Marie Pfaff association footballer ★★★★★
Kelly Troup Julie London television actor ★★★★★ Bobby Troup television actor ★★★★★
Kelly Osbourne Sharon Osbourne singer ★★★★★

Kelly – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2023 #1 — 897
Ireland Boys 2003 #1 — 569
BW Girls 0 #5 474 4,216
FJ 0 #6 1 374
HT 0 #12 1 399
BW 0 #13 7 960
KR Girls 0 #13 3 572
SV Girls 0 #16 3 458
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
TW Girls 0 #23 545 8,139
BI Girls 0 #25 9 726
NA 0 #25 9 2,537
MO 0 #28 25 2,706
DJ Girls 0 #29 1 488
HT Boys 0 #29 6 903
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
EE 0 #31 7 1,051
CN 0 #32 54 3,857
CN Girls 0 #34 872 8,829
TW 0 #34 70 4,523
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
TM Girls 0 #35 1 574
CM 0 #36 20 2,592
MY Girls 0 #37 5,092 24,821
MT 0 #39 5 1,767
SG Girls 0 #39 2,056 18,916
HK Girls 0 #41 2,906 16,104
MO Girls 0 #41 334 7,056
BI Boys 0 #43 2 917
LU 0 #50 17 2,830
PR 0 #54 2 1,497
MY 0 #57 371 12,352
BR Girls 0 #60 7,946 12,708
LU Girls 0 #64 147 4,850
JP 0 #66 12 4,057
CM Girls 0 #67 1,428 11,671
JM 0 #67 21 3,714
SG 0 #67 263 11,010
AO 0 #69 9 2,729
BN Girls 0 #70 37 5,459
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
CO Girls 0 #73 15,645 16,140
GR Girls 0 #75 225 6,293
SI 0 #79 2 1,612
PH 0 #80 17 5,607
BG 0 #81 2 1,799
EE Girls 0 #84 57 1,888
GR 0 #85 50 3,911
MT Girls 0 #86 68 3,773
QA 0 #88 13 7,011
NL Girls 0 #89 4,179 5,933
CR 0 #93 66 5,526
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
ID Girls 0 #98 5 3,319
PE Girls 0 #99 5,693 14,861
BR 0 #103 352 5,969
CY Girls 0 #110 12 3,755
JM Girls 0 #111 181 7,507
NA Girls 0 #113 118 7,146
HU 0 #114 2 1,675
EC 0 #115 7 2,502
Norway Girls 2019 #116 5 456
OM 0 #116 6 6,215
PA 0 #116 15 3,797
KW 0 #118 4 5,216
Switzerland Girls 2024 #122 14 1,786
CO 0 #124 879 7,768
MU 0 #127 10 3,613
CY Boys 0 #129 3 3,473
HK 0 #130 290 8,483
AZ Boys 0 #131 1 1,400
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
PE 0 #133 207 6,350
BW Boys 0 #134 16 4,685
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BN Boys 0 #136 4 6,332
EC Girls 0 #139 105 3,650
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
JP Girls 0 #144 112 6,592
PR Girls 0 #147 15 3,171
ZA 0 #148 340 14,421
AE 0 #154 24 10,220
NL 0 #154 288 2,481
Sweden Girls 2022 #158 22 1,568
MU Girls 0 #159 210 8,539
PA Girls 0 #159 494 9,861
AO Girls 0 #171 39 4,575
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
PR Boys 0 #174 5 2,508
UY 0 #175 8 2,477
MT Boys 0 #176 4 4,064
SI Girls 0 #176 2 2,769
Belgium Girls 2013 #180 25 402
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Sweden Boys 2018 #185 2 1,584
AR 0 #186 8 2,915
RU 0 #189 6 3,641
AO Boys 0 #193 50 5,568
NG 0 #200 66 5,926
DK 0 #201 6 5,198
PS 0 #202 17 5,692
MO Boys 0 #214 10 5,842
LU Boys 0 #215 6 4,970
PT 0 #215 32 4,161
GH 0 #217 27 5,396
NA Boys 0 #219 17 6,830
AL Girls 0 #220 8 4,141
PT Girls 0 #221 356 7,952
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
GH Boys 0 #225 128 8,138
ZA Girls 0 #226 2,747 25,928
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
TW Boys 0 #231 11 7,111
Canada Girls 2024 #239 47 2,795
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
BO Girls 0 #245 566 9,488
JM Boys 0 #245 28 6,876
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
CR Girls 0 #247 364 11,342
IL 0 #253 22 6,291
NG Boys 0 #260 1,848 16,906
QA Girls 0 #264 53 15,378
GR Boys 0 #267 7 6,912
PH Girls 0 #269 123 13,098
AF Boys 0 #274 1 3,535
GH Girls 0 #279 46 6,973
SA 0 #281 15 10,560
GT Girls 0 #282 253 7,500
JP Boys 0 #282 16 7,909
HR Girls 0 #286 9 3,687
GT 0 #288 27 5,948
DK Girls 0 #292 25 7,429
Canada Boys 2024 #294 13 2,588
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
CN Boys 0 #297 23 9,639
France Girls 2021 #300 108 3,185
AL Boys 0 #300 4 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #300 6 6,530
UY Girls 0 #304 247 6,731
JO Girls 0 #315 11 7,570
CZ Girls 0 #317 25 5,378
OM Girls 0 #319 78 15,987
BO 0 #325 57 6,868
CL Girls 0 #326 907 14,098
DK Boys 0 #329 4 7,401
KZ Girls 0 #329 4 5,862
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
PH Boys 0 #346 38 11,440
MU Boys 0 #348 10 8,477
CL 0 #350 62 6,867
SD Girls 0 #351 8 7,678
MX 0 #356 58 8,339
PL Girls 0 #360 5 5,096
Finland Girls 0 #363 29 1,368
PT Boys 0 #373 9 7,951
CM Boys 0 #377 191 12,054
AE Girls 0 #380 174 20,968
Spain 0 #380 73 2,326
France Boys 2021 #383 5 2,865
NG Girls 0 #386 551 15,093
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
Austria Girls 0 #394 27 1,885
YE 0 #395 4 8,639
BD Girls 0 #402 5 8,413
Germany 0 #407 31 2,542
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
Finland Boys 0 #417 11 2,041
Spain Girls 0 #423 822 5,561
CR Boys 0 #424 64 10,188
HK Boys 0 #426 102 12,905
Austria Boys 0 #432 11 2,180
RU Girls 0 #436 63 11,913
PA Boys 0 #448 34 9,305
PS Girls 0 #448 76 10,981
KW Girls 0 #450 66 19,177
SD Boys 0 #461 6 10,523
AR Boys 0 #476 8 7,628
RU Boys 0 #484 22 12,621
LY 0 #485 51 12,703
AR Girls 0 #487 113 8,289
GT Boys 0 #494 6 7,625
IQ Girls 0 #495 10 11,303
IL Girls 0 #497 122 11,648
MX Girls 0 #497 1,221 17,781
IR Girls 0 #515 16 8,334
BH 0 #523 31 17,937
PS Boys 0 #536 13 10,655
IT Girls 0 #551 1,572 9,415
IR Boys 0 #561 5 10,162
IT 0 #576 140 4,183
BO Boys 0 #580 13 9,244
IL Boys 0 #592 16 10,983
CL Boys 0 #598 68 13,390
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IN Girls 0 #606 26 13,121
United States Girls 2024 #615 310 8,487
SG Boys 0 #616 82 17,960
Germany Girls 0 #620 222 4,949
BR Boys 0 #627 126 12,213
LB 0 #629 30 13,263
QA Boys 0 #677 31 18,093
Finland Girls 2026 #689 50 3,895
IQ Boys 0 #692 6 13,071
CO Boys 0 #717 208 15,656
KW Boys 0 #754 16 18,755
SY 0 #762 6 11,684
ZA Boys 0 #763 465 25,619
United States Boys 2024 #784 109 7,044
TN 0 #803 27 13,765
PE Boys 0 #808 71 14,506
SA Girls 0 #809 127 25,931
NL Boys 0 #813 139 5,873
OM Boys 0 #860 22 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #866 65 5,610
EG Boys 0 #870 17 15,035
MY Boys 0 #894 219 25,439
Germany Boys 0 #905 48 5,697
EG Girls 0 #921 39 14,742
MX Boys 0 #941 42 16,355
IN Boys 0 #978 24 16,750
MA 0 #1,026 103 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,034 59 22,615
DZ 0 #1,087 90 20,130
TR 0 #1,163 49 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,200 272 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,487 128 28,008

Kelly is popular in 94 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
Norway

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Kelly

Kelly is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Kelly is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈkɛli/ (KEL-ee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Kelley, Kellie, Kelli, Kellee, Kelci and Kelcie.
Across languages, Kelly has these equivalents: Ceallach (Irish personal name), Ó Ceallaigh / O'Kelly (Irish surname/anglicized form).
Yes, very popular — Kelly ranked #1 in Ireland in 2023, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Kelly ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2023).
Yes — 25 notable people named Kelly are in our database, including Kelly Clarkson (Actor), Kelly Preston (Actor), Kelly Macdonald (Actor).
Yes — at least 7 celebrity couples have chosen Kelly for their child, including George Carlin.