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Kelly

“Descendant of Ceallach, a name of uncertain meaning (perhaps bright-headed)” — Irish Gaelic origin

Boy's name · #1867 in the US (2025) · Retro

Kelly has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #97 (1968) · 82,400 babies named Kelly all-time · 1 in 20,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 12,000 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 11 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kellys

• Kelly Olynyk — Canadian basketball player
• Kelly — Brazilian association football player
• Kelly Johnson — American aerospace engineer (1910–1990)
• Kelly Slater — American surfer (born 1972)
• Kelly Blatz — American actor and musician

In stories & tradition

• Kelly Severide — Chicago Fire
• Kelly Nelson — Guiding Light
• Kelly Windsor — Emmerdale

What Kellys become

Among 1,529 notable people named Kelly:

Athletes appear 1.9× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kelly Olynyk, Canadian basketball player.

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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