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Kelly

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

Girl's name · #851 in the US (2025) · Retro

Kelly has appeared in US records since 1907 — best rank #10 (1977) · 473,965 babies named Kelly all-time · 1 in 5,000 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,800 girls in Sweden (2025) · about 1 in 2,400 girls in Switzerland (2024) · about 1 in 3,100 girls in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 25 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kellys

• Kelly Clarkson — American singer-songwriter (born 1982)
• Kelly Rowland — American singer and actress (born 1981)
• Kelly Preston — American actress (1962–2020)
• Kelly Brook — British actress and model
• Kelly Macdonald — Scottish actress

In stories & tradition

• Kelly Taylor — Beverly Hills, 90210
• Kelly Kapoor — The Office
• Kelly Peyton — Alias

What Kellys become

Among 1,529 notable people named Kelly:

Athletes appear 1.9× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kelly Holmes, British middle distance athlete and Olympic gold medallist.

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

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