Kelly

Etymology

The surname Kelly has multiple origins. There is a Clan Kelly in Scotland, possibly derived from a toponym Kelloe. The Irish surname may be from either Ó Ceallaigh or Ó Cadhla, or yet again from a toponym. The surname was established in the United States by the early 19th century, and it began to be used as a masculine name in the later 19th century. Feminine usage first appeared in the 1940s and surpassed masculine usage around 1957 due to the popularity of the American actress Grace Kelly.

Popularity

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kelly, as a name for a girl, was ranked No. 900 in 1950, then steadily gained popularity until 1977 (peaking at rank No. 10); Kelly, as a name for a boy, was consistently in the top 800 (but never the top 300) from 1881 to 1939, then steadily gained popularity until 1968 (peaking at rank No. 97).

The feminine name reached two significant peaks, rank No. 12 in 1968, then declining to rank No. 23 in 1972, and again rising to rank No. 10 in 1977; both the feminine and the masculine name have been in steady decline since reaching their respective popularity peaks; the masculine name fell below rank No. 1000 in 2003; the feminine name lingers at rank No. 367 as of 2013.

In the United Kingdom, it made its way into the top 50 during the 1970s and by 1984 was the 15th most popular feminine first name. However, 10 years later it had declined to 53rd place and by 1999 had fallen out of the top 100.

People with the name

Feminine name

Kelly Ayotte (born 1968), American politician

Kelly J. Baker (born 1980), American writer and editor

Kelly Brook (born 1979), English model and actress

Kelly M. Burke, American politician

Kelly Chen (born 1972), Chinese singer and actress

Kelly Cheung (born 1990), American actress and television host

Kelly Carlson (born 1976), American actress

Kelly Clark (born 1983), American snowboarder

Kelly Clark (footballer) (born 1994), Scottish footballer

Kelly Clarkson (born 1982), American singer

Kelly Craft (born 1962), American diplomat

Kelly Curtis (1956–2026), American actress

Kelly Curtis (skeleton racer) (born 1989), American skeleton racer

Kelly Ellard (born 1982), Canadian murderer

Kelly Evans (born 1985), American journalist

Kelly Rae Finley (born 1985), American basketball coach

Kelly J. Ford, American novelist

Kelly Fraga (born 1974), Brazilian volleyball player

Masculine name

Kelly Alexander (born 1948), American politician

Kelly Armstrong (born 1972), American politician

Kelly Asbury (1960–2020), American animated film director and screenwriter

Kelly Bailey, composer and sound designer at Valve for the Half-Life video game series

Kelly Bennett (born 1971), Zimbabwean cricketer

Kelly Brown (born 1982), Scottish rugby player

Kelly Bryant (born 1996), American football player

Kelly Blatz (born 1987), American actor and singer

Kelly Clark (lawyer) (1957–2013), American lawyer and politician

Kelly Chase (born 1967), Canadian ice hockey player and broadcaster

Kelly Coleman (1938–2019), American basketball player

Kelly Collins (born 1965), American racing driver

Kelly C. Crabb (1946–2019), American lawyer

Kelly DeVries (born 1956), American historian

Kelly Flynn (1954–2021), American politician

Kelly Allen Frank, American fugitive

Kelly Gage (1925–2017), American lawyer and politician

Fictional characters

Kelly Ashoona, character in Degrassi: The Next Generation

Kelly Bailey, played by Lauren Socha on the TV series Misfits

Kelly Cramer, on the soap opera One Life to Live

Kelly Gaines, played by Jackie Swanson on the U.S. TV series Cheers

Kelly Garrett (Charlie's Angels), played by Jaclyn Smith on the U.S. TV series Charlie's Angels'

Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling on the U.S. version of The Office'

Kelly Taylor, played by Jennie Garth on the U.S. TV series Beverly Hills, 90210

Kelly Taylor, played by Brooke Kinsella on the British soap opera EastEnders

Kelly Roberts, Barbie's younger sister