gender neutral
Kelly
warrior, bright-headed
About Kelly
A friendly, approachable name that bridges traditional and modern sensibilities with effortless charm. Kelly has evolved beautifully across generations, carrying with it a sense of warmth and accessibility. The name's gentle sound and balanced structure make it easy to pair with various middle names and surnames. Historically unisex, Kelly brings a progressive quality to naming traditions while maintaining broad appeal. Its familiarity ensures easy recognition and pronunciation, yet it never feels overly common or dated. The name suits a child who might grow up to be creative, sociable, and open-minded. Kelly works equally well in casual and professional settings, offering versatility that many parents value. The soft K opening combined with the lyrical double-L creates a melodic quality that's both pleasing to the ear and simple to spell, making it practical for everyday use throughout life.
Popularity of the Name Kelly
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #995 | |||
| 1881 | #676 | |||
| 1882 | #526 | |||
| 1883 | #543 | |||
| 1884 | #640 | |||
| 1885 | #492 | |||
| 1886 | #462 | |||
| 1887 | #500 | |||
| 1888 | #676 | |||
| 1889 | #451 | |||
| 1890 | #621 | |||
| 1891 | #674 | |||
| 1892 | #470 | |||
| 1893 | #396 | |||
| 1894 | #610 | |||
| 1895 | #406 | |||
| 1896 | #573 | |||
| 1897 | #537 | |||
| 1898 | #721 | |||
| 1899 | #755 | |||
| 1900 | #390 | |||
| 1901 | #621 | |||
| 1902 | #546 | |||
| 1903 | #461 | |||
| 1904 | #666 | |||
| 1905 | #771 | |||
| 1906 | #512 | |||
| 1907 | #433 | |||
| 1908 | #508 | |||
| 1909 | #512 | |||
| 1910 | #386 | |||
| 1911 | #459 | |||
| 1912 | #527 | |||
| 1913 | #547 | |||
| 1914 | #511 | |||
| 1915 | #566 | |||
| 1916 | #616 | |||
| 1917 | #501 | |||
| 1918 | #554 | |||
| 1919 | #496 | |||
| 1920 | #566 | |||
| 1921 | #541 | |||
| 1922 | #523 | |||
| 1923 | #603 | |||
| 1924 | #570 | |||
| 1925 | #562 | |||
| 1926 | #548 | |||
| 1927 | #534 | |||
| 1928 | #539 | |||
| 1929 | #496 | |||
| 1930 | #556 | |||
| 1931 | #506 | |||
| 1932 | #579 | |||
| 1933 | #516 | |||
| 1934 | #474 | |||
| 1935 | #515 | |||
| 1936 | #481 | |||
| 1937 | #515 | |||
| 1938 | #497 | |||
| 1939 | #467 | |||
| 1940 | #485 | |||
| 1941 | #470 | |||
| 1942 | #385 | |||
| 1943 | #369 | |||
| 1944 | #363 | |||
| 1945 | #385 | |||
| 1946 | #389 | |||
| 1947 | #368 | |||
| 1948 | #346 | |||
| 1949 | #299 | |||
| 1950 | #307 | |||
| 1951 | #252 | |||
| 1952 | #235 | |||
| 1953 | #233 | |||
| 1954 | #224 | |||
| 1955 | #204 | |||
| 1956 | #190 | |||
| 1957 | #167 | |||
| 1958 | #148 | #202 | ||
| 1959 | #143 | |||
| 1960 | #128 | |||
| 1961 | #125 | #206 | ||
| 1962 | #125 | #223 | ||
| 1963 | #126 | |||
| 1964 | #132 | #193 | ||
| 1965 | #136 | #201 | ||
| 1966 | #111 | #216 | ||
| 1967 | #102 | #209 | ||
| 1968 | #97 | #266 | ||
| 1969 | #115 | #104 | ||
| 1970 | #135 | #111 | ||
| 1971 | #136 | #109 | ||
| 1972 | #140 | #116 | ||
| 1973 | #147 | #114 | ||
| 1974 | #143 | #109 | ||
| 1975 | #150 | #136 | ||
| 1976 | #158 | #119 | ||
| 1977 | #162 | #106 | ||
| 1978 | #180 | #141 | ||
| 1979 | #200 | #172 | ||
| 1980 | #210 | #146 | ||
| 1981 | #209 | #253 | ||
| 1982 | #197 | #168 | ||
| 1983 | #217 | #188 | ||
| 1984 | #228 | #198 | ||
| 1985 | #254 | #169 | ||
| 1986 | #255 | #214 | ||
| 1987 | #280 | #231 | ||
| 1988 | #307 | #164 | ||
| 1989 | #299 | #150 | ||
| 1990 | #351 | #215 | ||
| 1991 | #367 | #207 | #215 | |
| 1992 | #417 | #300 | #261 | |
| 1993 | #456 | #262 | #356 | |
| 1994 | #514 | #336 | #376 | |
| 1995 | #536 | #392 | ||
| 1996 | #551 | #261 | #432 | |
| 1997 | #616 | #505 | ||
| 1998 | #698 | #541 | ||
| 1999 | #787 | #312 | #572 | |
| 2000 | #797 | #638 | ||
| 2001 | #902 | #466 | #658 | |
| 2002 | #883 | #798 | ||
| 2003 | #580 | #796 | ||
| 2004 | #798 | |||
| 2005 | #890 | |||
| 2006 | #962 |
Top names by country: United States · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Kelly
Names Similar to Kelly
Nicknames for Kelly
- Kel
- K.L.
- Kels
- Kell
Famous People Named Kelly
| Kelly Johnson | American aerospace engineer and designer of the SR-71 Blackbird |
| Kelly Clarkson | American singer and winner of the inaugural season of American Idol |
| Kelly Reichardt | American film director and screenwriter |
| Kelly Ayotte | American politician and former U.S. Senator |
| Kelly Hansen | American rock singer with the band Foreigner |
| Kelly Rowland | American singer and member of Destiny's Child |
| Kelly Olynyk | Canadian professional basketball player |
| Kelly Pavlik | American former professional boxer |
| Kelly Cutrone | American fashion publicist and television personality |
| Kelly Tripucka | American retired NBA player |
| Kelly McGillis | American actress known for her role in "Top Gun" |
| Kelly Blatz | American actor and musician |
| Kelly Reno | Former American actor, known for his role in "The Black Stallion" |
| Kelly Sutherland | Canadian chuckwagon racer |
| Kelly Jones | Welsh singer and lead vocalist of the Stereophonics |
| Kelly Slater | American actor known for "Days of Thunder" and "Heathers" |
| Kelly Groucutt | English musician and bassist of Electric Light Orchestra |
| Kelly Rutherford | American actress known for her role in "Gossip Girl" |
| Kelly Chen | Hong Kong singer and actress |
Characters Named Kelly
| Kelly Taylor | A character from the TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210" |
| Kelly Severide | A character from the TV series "Chicago Fire" |
| Kelly Gaines | A character from the movie "Bad News Bears" |
| Kelly Leak | A character from the movie "The Bad News Bears" |
| Kelly Garrett | A character from the TV series and movie "Charlie's Angels" |
| Kelly Bundy | A character from the TV series "Married... with Children" |
| Kelly Kapoor | A character from the TV series "The Office" - US |
| Kelly Burkhardt | A character from the TV series "Grimm" |
| Kelly Parker | A character from the movie "Center Stage" |
| Kelly Canter | A character from the movie "Country Strong" |
| Kelly Robinson | A character from the movie "Undercover Brother" |
| Kelly O'Shea | A character from the movie "Summer School" |
| Kelly Myers | A character from the movie "Donnie Darko" |
| Kelly Van Ryan | A character from the movie "Wild Things" |
| Kelly Moss | A character from the movie "F/X2" |