gender neutral
Kelly
warrior
About Kelly
Timeless simplicity defines Kelly. This name has weathered decades without losing relevance, testament to its fundamental appeal. Kelly represents a particular era while transcending it—familiar enough to feel comfortable, established enough to be taken seriously. The crisp consonants and cheerful vowel create an efficient, energetic sound.
Parents choosing Kelly often value straightforwardness and reliability in naming. It requires no explanation, no spelling correction, no pronunciation guide. Kelly works across all contexts effortlessly, professional and casual alike. The name suggests approachability and down-to-earth sensibility. While perhaps not the most fashionable choice currently, Kelly offers something increasingly rare: complete lack of pretension. It's a name that lets the person shine rather than the label, providing a clean slate for your daughter to become exactly who she chooses to be.
Popularity of the Name Kelly
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | #958 | ||||
| 1949 | #804 | ||||
| 1950 | #903 | ||||
| 1951 | #683 | ||||
| 1952 | #489 | ||||
| 1953 | #589 | ||||
| 1954 | #405 | ||||
| 1955 | #379 | ||||
| 1956 | #309 | ||||
| 1957 | #187 | ||||
| 1958 | #108 | ||||
| 1959 | #74 | ||||
| 1960 | #52 | ||||
| 1961 | #45 | ||||
| 1962 | #38 | ||||
| 1963 | #32 | #258 | |||
| 1964 | #35 | #151 | |||
| 1965 | #30 | #148 | |||
| 1966 | #26 | #129 | |||
| 1967 | #23 | #159 | |||
| 1968 | #12 | #133 | |||
| 1969 | #15 | #136 | #341 | ||
| 1970 | #20 | #90 | |||
| 1971 | #22 | #14 | #318 | ||
| 1972 | #23 | #11 | #323 | ||
| 1973 | #18 | #11 | #433 | ||
| 1974 | #15 | #20 | #313 | ||
| 1975 | #16 | #21 | #291 | ||
| 1976 | #19 | #22 | #303 | ||
| 1977 | #10 | #12 | #175 | ||
| 1978 | #12 | #3 | #151 | ||
| 1979 | #16 | #3 | #159 | ||
| 1980 | #19 | #5 | #128 | ||
| 1981 | #23 | #4 | #101 | ||
| 1982 | #25 | #4 | #102 | ||
| 1983 | #26 | #4 | #110 | ||
| 1984 | #27 | #8 | #89 | ||
| 1985 | #28 | #14 | #86 | ||
| 1986 | #29 | #15 | #80 | ||
| 1987 | #30 | #23 | #68 | ||
| 1988 | #32 | #26 | #54 | ||
| 1989 | #37 | #29 | #51 | ||
| 1990 | #41 | #32 | #48 | ||
| 1991 | #42 | #38 | #46 | #58 | |
| 1992 | #47 | #47 | #49 | #65 | |
| 1993 | #51 | #46 | #42 | #64 | |
| 1994 | #62 | #76 | #35 | #76 | |
| 1995 | #64 | #52 | #39 | #77 | |
| 1996 | #73 | #71 | #36 | #82 | |
| 1997 | #83 | #85 | #74 | #38 | #88 |
| 1998 | #90 | #123 | #90 | #53 | #82 |
| 1999 | #95 | #148 | #119 | #50 | #104 |
| 2000 | #111 | #164 | #133 | #50 | #102 |
| 2001 | #124 | #165 | #164 | #69 | #103 |
| 2002 | #119 | #215 | #134 | #57 | #97 |
| 2003 | #125 | #220 | #138 | #59 | #109 |
| 2004 | #138 | #240 | #167 | #63 | #139 |
| 2005 | #175 | #323 | #177 | #72 | #135 |
| 2006 | #212 | #324 | #253 | #102 | #166 |
| 2007 | #222 | #434 | #239 | #132 | #228 |
| 2008 | #248 | #427 | #224 | #152 | #275 |
| 2009 | #261 | #454 | #214 | #228 | #237 |
| 2010 | #306 | #558 | #360 | #150 | #296 |
| 2011 | #336 | #616 | #183 | #310 | |
| 2012 | #357 | #649 | #247 | #216 | #296 |
| 2013 | #369 | #782 | #349 | #299 | #330 |
| 2014 | #433 | #742 | #362 | #430 | |
| 2015 | #480 | #390 | #360 | ||
| 2016 | #515 | #910 | #434 | #351 | |
| 2017 | #597 | #385 | #454 | #332 | |
| 2018 | #618 | #408 | #658 | #435 | |
| 2019 | #652 | #404 | #479 | ||
| 2020 | #746 | #366 | #461 | #441 | |
| 2021 | #850 | #481 | #495 | ||
| 2022 | #809 | #669 | #723 | ||
| 2023 | #779 | #416 | #736 | ||
| 2024 | #867 | #622 | |||
| 2025 | #852 | #984 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Kelly
Names Similar to Kelly
Nicknames for Kelly
- Kel
- Kell
- Kiki
- Elly
Famous People Named Kelly
| Kelly Clarkson | American singer and winner of the first season of American Idol |
| Kelly Rowland | American singer and former member of Destiny's Child |
| Kelly Ripa | American TV host and actress |
| Kelly Preston | American actress known for her roles in films like "Jerry Maguire" and "Twins" |
| Kelly Osbourne | British TV personality and singer |
| Kelly Hu | American actress and former Miss Teen USA |
| Kelly Macdonald | Scottish actress known for her roles in "Trainspotting" and "Boardwalk Empire" |
| Kelly McGillis | American actress known for her role in the film "Top Gun" |
| Kelly Reichardt | American film director and screenwriter |
| Kelly Bishop | American actress known for her role in the TV show "Gilmore Girls" |
Characters Named Kelly
| Kelly Kapoor | A character from the TV show "The Office" - played by Mindy Kaling |
| Kelly Garrett | A character from the TV series "Charlie's Angels" |
| Kelly Taylor | A character from the TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210" |
| Kelly Bundy | A character from the TV show "Married... with Children" |
| Kelly Kline | A character from the TV series "Supernatural" |
| Kelly Winslow | A character from the TV show "Family Matters" |
| Kelly Freemont | A character from the movie "Heathers" |
| Kelly Grayson | A character from the TV series "The Orville" |
| Kelly Maxwell | A character from the TV series "Ash vs. Evil Dead" |
| Kelly Pitts | A character from the TV show "The Game" |