Kelly is a unisex name of Irish and Celtic origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. Its root name, Ceallach, is of uncertain meaning. In 2024 it was given to 419 babies in the United States.
Kelly belongs to the Irish & Celtic tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.
In the United States, Kelly first appears in Social Security records in 1880 and has been given to 555,958 babies since 1880, including 419 in 2024.
More names from the Irish & Celtic shelf:
The meaning of Kelly is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Irish and Celtic origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.
Kelly is a unisex name. In 2024, 419 babies received the name in the US.
Kelly comes from the Irish & Celtic tradition.
Kelly is uncommon in US records — it first appears in 1880 and has been given to 555,958 babies since 1880.
Kelly is pronounced /ˈkɛli/ (IPA).
Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.
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