Kelsey

“Ship's victory, or fierce island” — Old English origin

Girl's name · #814 in the US (2025) · 90s

Kelsey has appeared in US records since 1942 — best rank #23 (1992) · 150,416 babies named Kelsey all-time · 1 in 4,800 girls born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 3,500 girls in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 5,100 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 10,000 girls in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Kelseys

Kelsey Asbille — American actress
Kelsey Plum — American basketball player (born 1994)
Kelsey Serwa — Canadian freestyle skier
Kelsey Mitchell — Canadian track cyclist (1993-)
Kelsey Robinson — American volleyball player and beach volleyball player

In stories & tradition

Kelsey Peters — Younger
Kelsey Pokoly — Craig of the Creek

What Kelseys become

Among 313 notable people named Kelsey:

Athletes appear 2.93× more often than among typical names — e.g. Kelsey Plum, American basketball player (born 1994).

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