How popular is the name Kelly?

In 2025, 14 girls born in England and Wales were named Kelly, ranking 2,006th. Its peak was 1996, with 789 births.

Is Kelly a boy's or a girl's name?

Both. Of the 556,365 US babies named Kelly since 1880, 85% were girls and 15% boys.

When was Kelly most popular?

1977 in the United States, when 18,234 babies were named Kelly, its highest rank at 10th.

How do you pronounce Kelly?

Kelly is /ˈkɛli/, 2 syllables.

What are other spellings of Kelly?

Kelley, Kelli, Kellie and Kelleigh.

Is Kelly also a surname?

Yes. Kelly is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Kelly

A unisex name from Irish.

Pronounced /ˈkɛli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Irish origin

Borrowed from Irish Ó Ceallaigh. Doublet of Kellogg and Callahan.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 14 girls were named Kelly, making it the 2,006th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 789 births (#74).

4,353

babies named Kelly, 1996–2025

#2,006

rank in 2025

1996

peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Kelly with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Kelly at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 319 girls born in the United States were named Kelly, the 852nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1977, when 18,234 were.

GirlsBoys

556,365

babies named Kelly since 1880

#852

rank in 2025

1977

peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Kelly in other languages

Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

Kelli

Esperanto

Κέλλυ

Kélly

Greek

ケリー

Kerī

Japanese

Келли

Kelli

Russian

Spelled Kelly in French too.

Nicknames and spellings

Other spellings and forms

Famous people named Kelly

116 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Kelly Clarkson
American singer-songwriter (born 1982)
Kelly Preston
American actress (1962–2020)
Kelly Brook
British actress and model, born 1979
Kelly Hu
American actress, born 1968
Kelly Osbourne
British singer and actress, born 1984
Kelly McGillis
American actress, born 1957
Kelly Holmes
British middle distance athlete and Olympic gold medallist, born 1970
Kelly Marie Tran
American actress (born 1989)
Kelly Rutherford
American actress, born 1968
Kelly Le Brock
American actress and model, born 1960
Kelly Reilly
British actress, born 1977
Kelly Lynch
American actress, born 1959

More Irish unisex names

All 142 names of Irish origin

Questions

What does the name Kelly mean?: Borrowed from Irish Ó Ceallaigh. Doublet of Kellogg and Callahan.
What is the origin of the name Kelly?: Borrowed from Irish Ó Ceallaigh. Doublet of Kellogg and Callahan.
How popular is the name Kelly?: In 2025, 14 girls born in England and Wales were named Kelly, ranking 2,006th. Its peak was 1996, with 789 births.
Is Kelly a boy's or a girl's name?: Both. Of the 556,365 US babies named Kelly since 1880, 85% were girls and 15% boys.
When was Kelly most popular?: 1977 in the United States, when 18,234 babies were named Kelly, its highest rank at 10th.
How do you pronounce Kelly?: Kelly is /ˈkɛli/, 2 syllables.
What are other spellings of Kelly?: Kelley, Kelli, Kellie and Kelleigh.
Is Kelly also a surname?: Yes. Kelly is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.