Trending Baby Name Story

Name Profile

Kelly

Kelly is a gender-neutral baby name of Irish origin. Meaning "descendent of Ceallach" this name is packed with history and mystery alike. Kelly is an Anglicized name of the family name Ó Ceallaigh. Still a widely popular surname on the Emerald Isle, it remains the second most common there and 836th most common in the world! This family name still runs on as a first name too and means "bright-headed." Whether baby has Irish roots or not, with a name like Kelly, the path ahead will be bright as the sun.
Irish Unisex
Find Similar Names

Meaning

Descendant of Ceallach, Bright headed

Popularity

163 views

Favorites

0 saves

Popularity trend

Pronunciation

KEL-ee

Rate this Name

0.0 (0 ratings)

Log in to rate this name

Name Story

Traits

  • Creative
  • Intelligent
  • Adventurous
  • Charming

Compatibility

Kelly is a versatile unisex name that pairs well with both traditional and modern sibling names. It also works nicely as a middle name to balance out longer first names. Culturally, Kelly is a popular choice in Irish and American families, and it complements a variety of styles from classic to contemporary.

Creative Intelligent Adventurous Charming

Spotlight

Famous Personalities

Notable people who share the name.

Portrait of Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson

Singer, Songwriter

Born: April 24, 1982 · Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Portrait of Kelly McGillis

Kelly McGillis

Actress

Born: July 9, 1957 · Newport Beach, California, USA

Portrait of Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa

TV Host

Born: October 2, 1970 · Stratford, New Jersey, USA

Portrait of Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne

TV Personality

Born: October 27, 1984 · London, England

Similar Names

Stella

Star
Waylon

Land by the road, courageous fighter
John

God Is Gracious
Gwen

Fair, blessed, holy, white
Meena

Fish, precious stone
Serena

Serene, quite, peaceful
Explore More Names

Regional Variations & Spellings

Alternative Spellings

  • Kelly Original form
  • Kellie Variant
  • Kelli Variant
  • Persian
  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Hebrew
  • Georgian
  • Hindi
  • Korean

Cultural Adaptations

  • کلی (Keli) Persian
  • 凯莉 (Kǎilì) Chinese
  • ケリー (Kerī) Japanese
  • קֶלִי (Qeli) Hebrew
  • კელი (K'eli) Georgian
  • केली (Kelī) Hindi
  • 켈리 (Kelli) Korean

Share this name

Share: X Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions about Kelly

What does Kelly mean?
Descendant of Ceallach, Bright headed
What is the origin of Kelly?
Kelly has Irish origins.
Is Kelly popular?
Kelly has been viewed 163 times and saved to favorites 0 times by our community.
What are similar names to Kelly?
Similar names include Stella, Waylon, John, Gwen, Meena.
How do you pronounce Kelly?
Kelly is pronounced KEL-ee.

Get 50 Unique Baby Names Delivered Weekly

Join our newsletter for name inspiration and cultural insights.