Fun Facts About the Name Kelly
- An established favorite: Kelly held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 41 consecutive years, from 1959 through 1999.
- More than 556 thousand babies named Kelly: U.S. records list 556,361 babies given the name Kelly from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 82,401 boys received the name Kelly - about 1 boy for every 6 girls.
What Does the Name Kelly Mean?
Kelly is an Irish name derived from the surname Ó Ceallaigh, which means 'descendant of Ceallach.' The surname is a patronymic formed with Ó, 'descendant of,' and the personal name Ceallach. The meaning of that earlier name is not securely known. One explanation connects it with Old Irish cellach, 'strife' or 'contention'; another links it with ceann, 'head,' in the sense 'bright-headed.' The familiar glosses 'warrior' and 'bright-headed' are interpretations of Ceallach, not separate origins of Kelly. The surname's literal genealogical meaning is 'descendant of Ceallach.'
Kelly Name History & Origins
The personal name behind Kelly appears in early Irish records as Cellach, later spelled Ceallach. It was borne by early Irish saints, including Saint Ceallach of Killala, and by kings in several small Irish kingdoms. From this name, Irish families formed the patronymic surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceallach.' In English records the Ó was often dropped, giving O'Kelly and Kelly; Kelley is a common variant spelling. Because the personal name was used in different parts of Ireland, the surname arose in more than one family.
Kelly was also used as a given name in Ireland as an anglicized form of Ceallach. In the English-speaking world, it became a transferred use of the surname. It was used as a male given name before becoming established as a female given name in the United States in the 20th century, while continuing in use for men as well.
How Popular is the Name Kelly?
Kelly recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1977. Kelly entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 1968.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #852 | 319 | 0.0198% |
| 2024 | #868 | 310 | 0.0192% |
| 2023 | #778 | 362 | 0.0226% |
| 2022 | #808 | 347 | 0.0212% |
| 2021 | #850 | 324 | 0.0198% |
| 2020 | #745 | 366 | 0.0227% |
| 2019 | #653 | 447 | 0.0266% |
| 2018 | #619 | 485 | 0.0285% |
| 2017 | #597 | 504 | 0.0292% |
| 2016 | #514 | 605 | 0.0342% |
| 2015 | #479 | 675 | 0.0378% |
| 2014 | #432 | 739 | 0.0414% |
| 2013 | #369 | 849 | 0.0484% |
| 2012 | #357 | 892 | 0.0507% |
| 2011 | #336 | 944 | 0.0537% |
| 2010 | #306 | 1,061 | 0.0597% |
| 2009 | #261 | 1,251 | 0.0681% |
| 2008 | #248 | 1,399 | 0.0740% |
| 2007 | #222 | 1,568 | 0.0816% |
| 2006 | #212 | 1,611 | 0.0847% |
| 2005 | #175 | 1,952 | 0.1056% |
| 2004 | #138 | 2,357 | 0.1284% |
| 2003 | #125 | 2,736 | 0.1497% |
| 2002 | #119 | 2,852 | 0.1587% |
| 2001 | #124 | 2,814 | 0.1563% |
| 2000 | #111 | 3,076 | 0.1694% |
| 1999 | #95 | 3,420 | 0.1928% |
| 1998 | #90 | 3,703 | 0.2096% |
| 1997 | #83 | 4,064 | 0.2335% |
| 1996 | #73 | 4,734 | 0.2701% |
| 1995 | #64 | 5,398 | 0.3070% |
| 1994 | #62 | 5,446 | 0.3050% |
| 1993 | #51 | 6,295 | 0.3480% |
| 1992 | #47 | 7,012 | 0.3803% |
| 1991 | #42 | 7,514 | 0.4008% |
| 1990 | #41 | 8,137 | 0.4286% |
| 1989 | #37 | 8,759 | 0.4751% |
| 1988 | #32 | 8,916 | 0.5007% |
| 1987 | #30 | 9,866 | 0.5675% |
| 1986 | #29 | 10,411 | 0.6069% |
| 1985 | #28 | 11,031 | 0.6410% |
| 1984 | #27 | 11,217 | 0.6662% |
| 1983 | #26 | 11,587 | 0.6936% |
| 1982 | #25 | 12,170 | 0.7187% |
| 1981 | #23 | 11,873 | 0.7118% |
| 1980 | #19 | 13,710 | 0.8257% |
| 1979 | #16 | 15,296 | 0.9528% |
| 1978 | #12 | 16,977 | 1.1082% |
| 1977 | #10 | 18,234 | 1.1893% |
| 1976 | #19 | 11,791 | 0.8048% |
| 1975 | #16 | 11,737 | 0.8051% |
| 1974 | #15 | 10,849 | 0.7393% |
| 1973 | #18 | 10,514 | 0.7210% |
| 1972 | #23 | 10,943 | 0.7193% |
| 1971 | #22 | 12,599 | 0.7572% |
| 1970 | #20 | 14,608 | 0.8356% |
| 1969 | #15 | 16,328 | 0.9679% |
| 1968 | #12 | 17,139 | 1.0448% |
| 1967 | #23 | 13,717 | 0.8308% |
| 1966 | #26 | 13,242 | 0.7825% |
| 1965 | #30 | 12,763 | 0.7231% |
| 1964 | #35 | 12,469 | 0.6580% |
| 1963 | #32 | 12,550 | 0.6511% |
| 1962 | #38 | 11,530 | 0.5863% |
| 1961 | #45 | 9,641 | 0.4777% |
| 1960 | #52 | 8,673 | 0.4290% |
| 1959 | #74 | 6,379 | 0.3153% |
| 1958 | #108 | 4,472 | 0.2223% |
| 1957 | #187 | 1,903 | 0.0931% |
| 1956 | #309 | 830 | 0.0413% |
| 1955 | #380 | 539 | 0.0276% |
| 1954 | #406 | 453 | 0.0233% |
| 1953 | #590 | 226 | 0.0120% |
| 1952 | #490 | 296 | 0.0160% |
| 1951 | #685 | 163 | 0.0091% |
| 1950 | #904 | 97 | 0.0057% |
| 1949 | #805 | 117 | 0.0068% |
| 1948 | #959 | 83 | 0.0049% |
| 1947 | #1,042 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 1946 | #1,214 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 1945 | #1,106 | 51 | 0.0039% |
| 1944 | #1,011 | 60 | 0.0045% |
| 1943 | #1,382 | 36 | 0.0026% |
| 1942 | #1,359 | 36 | 0.0027% |
| 1941 | #1,486 | 28 | 0.0023% |
| 1940 | #1,613 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1939 | #2,818 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #1,908 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1937 | #2,256 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #2,330 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,370 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #2,652 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #2,474 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1932 | #2,306 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #3,104 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,485 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #2,835 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #2,877 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #3,176 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #2,802 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1925 | #2,438 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #3,257 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #3,242 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #2,681 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #2,436 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1920 | #3,002 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #3,633 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #2,442 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1917 | #3,519 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #3,148 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #4,614 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1914 | #2,191 | 11 | 0.0014% |
| 1912 | #2,506 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #2,669 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1910 | #2,286 | 6 | 0.0015% |
| 1909 | #1,870 | 7 | 0.0020% |
| 1908 | #2,274 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1907 | #2,216 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,881 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 2024 | #1,579 | 109 | 0.0064% |
| 2023 | #1,749 | 94 | 0.0055% |
| 2022 | #1,485 | 122 | 0.0070% |
| 2021 | #1,540 | 114 | 0.0065% |
| 2020 | #1,520 | 110 | 0.0064% |
| 2019 | #1,570 | 107 | 0.0060% |
| 2018 | #1,597 | 103 | 0.0057% |
| 2017 | #1,472 | 115 | 0.0062% |
| 2016 | #1,460 | 118 | 0.0062% |
| 2015 | #1,559 | 104 | 0.0054% |
| 2014 | #1,528 | 105 | 0.0055% |
| 2013 | #1,542 | 103 | 0.0054% |
| 2012 | #1,521 | 106 | 0.0056% |
| 2011 | #1,501 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 2010 | #1,571 | 101 | 0.0053% |
| 2009 | #1,261 | 140 | 0.0071% |
| 2008 | #1,459 | 113 | 0.0055% |
| 2007 | #1,156 | 154 | 0.0074% |
| 2006 | #1,208 | 139 | 0.0068% |
| 2005 | #1,249 | 127 | 0.0064% |
| 2004 | #1,026 | 160 | 0.0081% |
| 2003 | #1,067 | 146 | 0.0074% |
| 2002 | #884 | 185 | 0.0095% |
| 2001 | #903 | 174 | 0.0090% |
| 2000 | #799 | 202 | 0.0103% |
| 1999 | #789 | 195 | 0.0102% |
| 1998 | #698 | 240 | 0.0126% |
| 1997 | #616 | 284 | 0.0151% |
| 1996 | #551 | 339 | 0.0179% |
| 1995 | #536 | 357 | 0.0188% |
| 1994 | #514 | 385 | 0.0199% |
| 1993 | #456 | 475 | 0.0242% |
| 1992 | #417 | 534 | 0.0267% |
| 1991 | #367 | 643 | 0.0318% |
| 1990 | #351 | 687 | 0.0334% |
| 1989 | #299 | 811 | 0.0405% |
| 1988 | #307 | 740 | 0.0387% |
| 1987 | #280 | 786 | 0.0421% |
| 1986 | #255 | 873 | 0.0474% |
| 1985 | #254 | 892 | 0.0483% |
| 1984 | #228 | 985 | 0.0546% |
| 1983 | #218 | 1,054 | 0.0588% |
| 1982 | #197 | 1,271 | 0.0700% |
| 1981 | #209 | 1,181 | 0.0659% |
| 1980 | #210 | 1,183 | 0.0663% |
| 1979 | #200 | 1,208 | 0.0702% |
| 1978 | #180 | 1,308 | 0.0797% |
| 1977 | #162 | 1,484 | 0.0903% |
| 1976 | #158 | 1,540 | 0.0981% |
| 1975 | #150 | 1,644 | 0.1053% |
| 1974 | #143 | 1,758 | 0.1118% |
| 1973 | #147 | 1,702 | 0.1092% |
| 1972 | #140 | 1,917 | 0.1182% |
| 1971 | #136 | 2,266 | 0.1281% |
| 1970 | #135 | 2,495 | 0.1343% |
| 1969 | #115 | 2,791 | 0.1561% |
| 1968 | #97 | 3,058 | 0.1759% |
| 1967 | #102 | 3,093 | 0.1774% |
| 1966 | #111 | 2,784 | 0.1561% |
| 1965 | #136 | 2,259 | 0.1214% |
| 1964 | #132 | 2,492 | 0.1251% |
| 1963 | #126 | 2,727 | 0.1343% |
| 1962 | #125 | 2,856 | 0.1381% |
| 1961 | #125 | 3,013 | 0.1419% |
| 1960 | #128 | 2,931 | 0.1375% |
| 1959 | #143 | 2,437 | 0.1142% |
| 1958 | #148 | 2,299 | 0.1083% |
| 1957 | #167 | 1,876 | 0.0870% |
| 1956 | #190 | 1,468 | 0.0694% |
| 1955 | #204 | 1,250 | 0.0607% |
| 1954 | #224 | 964 | 0.0473% |
| 1953 | #233 | 845 | 0.0428% |
| 1952 | #235 | 805 | 0.0414% |
| 1951 | #252 | 701 | 0.0372% |
| 1950 | #307 | 488 | 0.0273% |
| 1949 | #299 | 510 | 0.0288% |
| 1948 | #346 | 379 | 0.0216% |
| 1947 | #368 | 351 | 0.0192% |
| 1946 | #389 | 283 | 0.0174% |
| 1945 | #385 | 240 | 0.0178% |
| 1944 | #363 | 275 | 0.0202% |
| 1943 | #369 | 275 | 0.0193% |
| 1942 | #385 | 249 | 0.0180% |
| 1941 | #470 | 160 | 0.0130% |
| 1940 | #485 | 142 | 0.0123% |
| 1939 | #467 | 153 | 0.0138% |
| 1938 | #497 | 137 | 0.0124% |
| 1937 | #515 | 126 | 0.0118% |
| 1936 | #481 | 138 | 0.0133% |
| 1935 | #515 | 125 | 0.0120% |
| 1934 | #474 | 144 | 0.0139% |
| 1933 | #516 | 120 | 0.0121% |
| 1932 | #579 | 105 | 0.0101% |
| 1931 | #506 | 129 | 0.0124% |
| 1930 | #557 | 117 | 0.0107% |
| 1929 | #496 | 141 | 0.0131% |
| 1928 | #539 | 128 | 0.0116% |
| 1927 | #534 | 132 | 0.0117% |
| 1926 | #548 | 123 | 0.0111% |
| 1925 | #562 | 121 | 0.0108% |
| 1924 | #570 | 125 | 0.0110% |
| 1923 | #603 | 111 | 0.0101% |
| 1922 | #523 | 141 | 0.0130% |
| 1921 | #541 | 133 | 0.0121% |
| 1920 | #566 | 121 | 0.0114% |
| 1919 | #496 | 144 | 0.0147% |
| 1918 | #554 | 118 | 0.0116% |
| 1917 | #501 | 131 | 0.0142% |
| 1916 | #616 | 90 | 0.0101% |
| 1915 | #566 | 101 | 0.0119% |
| 1914 | #511 | 92 | 0.0141% |
| 1913 | #547 | 63 | 0.0123% |
| 1912 | #527 | 57 | 0.0133% |
| 1911 | #459 | 41 | 0.0181% |
| 1910 | #386 | 46 | 0.0237% |
| 1909 | #512 | 26 | 0.0159% |
| 1908 | #508 | 25 | 0.0162% |
| 1907 | #433 | 29 | 0.0198% |
| 1906 | #512 | 20 | 0.0150% |
| 1905 | #771 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1904 | #666 | 13 | 0.0101% |
| 1903 | #461 | 21 | 0.0176% |
| 1902 | #546 | 16 | 0.0130% |
| 1901 | #622 | 12 | 0.0113% |
| 1900 | #390 | 33 | 0.0219% |
| 1899 | #755 | 9 | 0.0085% |
| 1898 | #722 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1897 | #537 | 15 | 0.0133% |
| 1896 | #573 | 14 | 0.0117% |
| 1895 | #406 | 23 | 0.0196% |
| 1894 | #611 | 12 | 0.0104% |
| 1893 | #396 | 21 | 0.0187% |
| 1892 | #470 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1891 | #674 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #621 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1889 | #451 | 17 | 0.0154% |
| 1888 | #676 | 10 | 0.0083% |
| 1887 | #500 | 13 | 0.0128% |
| 1886 | #462 | 16 | 0.0144% |
| 1885 | #492 | 15 | 0.0139% |
| 1884 | #640 | 10 | 0.0087% |
| 1883 | #543 | 12 | 0.0115% |
| 1882 | #526 | 13 | 0.0114% |
| 1881 | #676 | 8 | 0.0079% |
| 1880 | #995 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
