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Kelly

Girl

Meaning of Kelly: Irish: 'bright-headed'

Kelly is a girl's name most strongly associated with Irish naming. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, and it is familiar but far from overused — 683rd most popular girls' name in the United States in 2025 and 1672nd in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#683

403 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#1672

18 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

556,365

First recorded 1880 · peak 1968

Trend

falling

Style: uncommon

Popularity over time

1981: 13,054 babies1982: 13,440 babies1983: 12,641 babies1984: 12,201 babies1985: 11,921 babies1986: 11,284 babies1987: 10,652 babies1988: 9,657 babies1989: 9,570 babies1990: 8,824 babies19901991: 8,157 babies1992: 7,546 babies1993: 6,770 babies1994: 5,831 babies1995: 5,755 babies1996: 5,073 babies1997: 4,348 babies1998: 3,943 babies1999: 3,615 babies2000: 3,279 babies20002001: 2,988 babies2002: 3,037 babies2003: 2,882 babies2004: 2,517 babies2005: 2,079 babies2006: 1,750 babies2007: 1,723 babies2008: 1,512 babies2009: 1,391 babies2010: 1,162 babies20102011: 1,052 babies2012: 998 babies2013: 952 babies2014: 845 babies2015: 779 babies2016: 723 babies2017: 619 babies2018: 589 babies2019: 555 babies2020: 476 babies20202021: 438 babies2022: 469 babies2023: 456 babies2024: 421 babies2025: 403 babies
US babies named Kelly per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 13,440.

Gender split

15% boys · 85% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Irish girls' names

Other names starting with K