Kelly

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Kelly

Gender: Masculine and Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Kelly is the English form of a Irish surname, Ceallach, or Ceallachan. It originally meant “Visitor of Churches” or “War,” or “Slender.”

History:
Kelly is one of those names like Sherman, Taylor, Russell, or Harrison, that was a surname transferred to become a first name for boys. In recent years it has also become a girls’ name as well and is more common as such (said to be due to the popularity of film actress Grace Kelly, who starred in High Society in 1956).

Pronunciation: kell-ee

Alternates (male): Kelley.

Alternates (female): Kelley, Kellee, Keleigh, Kelia, Kelli, Kellie, Kellita, Kellye, Kylie, Kilie.
Hawaiian: Keli.

See also: Kelli.

Famous Bearers:
Scientists:
Kelly Johnson (m., 1910-1990)
American engineer. Originally named Clarence Leonard Johnson.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census for males:
0.063 % named Kelly
0.004 % named Kelley

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census for females:
0.283 % named Kelly
0.046 % named Kelli
0.031 % named Kelley
0.029 % named Kellie
0.002 % named Kellye
0.002 % named Kellee

Popularity of Kelly for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 545th most popular.
1910-1920: 567th most popular.
1920-1930: 596th most popular.
1930-1940: 504th most popular.
1940-1950: 412th most popular.
1950-1960: 211th most popular.
1960-1970: 126th most popular.
1970-1980: 166th most popular.
1980-1990: 250th most popular.
1990: 373rd most popular.
1991: 385th most popular.
1992: 431st most popular.
1993: 471st most popular.
1995: 548th most popular.
1996: 560th most popular.
1997: 624th most popular.
1998: 678th most popular.
1999: 795th most popular.
2000: 799th most popular.
2001: 891st most popular.
2002: 889th most popular.
2003: N/A

Popularity of Kelley, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 734th most popular.
1960-1970: 719th most popular.
1970-1980: 863rd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Kelly for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 209th most popular.
1960-1970: 31st most popular.
1970-1980: 14th most popular.
1980-1990: 29th most popular.
1990: 42nd most popular.
1991: 44th most popular.
1992: 354th most popular.
1992: 48th most popular.
1993: 51st most popular.
1995: 64th most popular.
1996: 80th most popular.
1998: 71st most popular.
1997: 82nd most popular.
1999: 97th most popular.
2000: 113th most popular.
2001: 125th most popular.
2002: 119th most popular.
2003: 125th most popular.

In France...
1900- 1980: N/A
1981: 161st most popular.
1990: 80th most popular.
2000: 88th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 53rd most popular.
1999: 50th most popular.
2000: 50th most popular.
2001: 69th most popular.
2002: 57th most popular.
2003: 59th most popular.

Popularity of Kelley, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 615th most popular.
1960-1970: 223rd most popular.
1970-1980: 208th most popular.
1980-1990: 279th most popular.
1990: 327th most popular.
1991: 387th most popular.
1992: 387th most popular.
1993: 464th most popular.
1995: 574th most popular.
1996: 652nd most popular.
1997: 735th most popular.
1998: 767th most popular.
1999: 902nd most popular.
2000: N/A

Popularity of Kellie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 778th most popular.
1960-1970: 245th most popular.
1970-1980: 199th most popular.
1980-1990: 243rd most popular.
1990: 271st most popular.
1991: 254th most popular.
1992: 273rd most popular.
1993: 300th most popular.
1995: 343rd most popular.
1996: 393rd most popular.
1997: 443rd most popular.
1998: 529th most popular.
1999: 530th most popular.
2000: 650th most popular.
2001: 818th most popular.
2002: 780th most popular.
2003: 947th most popular.