Kelly is a name of Irish origin and means "bright-headed". It has been used as both a feminine and masculine given name in Ireland for centuries. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "ceallach", which translates to bright-headed or wise. In medieval times, Kelly was primarily used as a boy's name, but it began to be used more frequently for girls in the 19th century. Today, Kelly is considered a unisex name and is popular among English-speaking countries around the world. Some notable individuals with the name Kelly include American actresses Kelly Preston and Kelly Ripa, as well as Irish singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson.
The name Kelly has had an interesting journey in terms of its popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 19th century, it was quite uncommon, with only a handful of births each year between 1880 and 1899.
However, the 20th century saw a significant increase in the number of girls named Kelly. The first major peak occurred around the early 1950s, reaching 701 births in 1951. This trend continued to rise throughout the decade, culminating in 1469 births in 1956 and 2300 births in 1958.
The name Kelly reached its peak popularity in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1967, there were 3093 births, making it one of the top ten most popular names that year. This trend continued until around 1974 when it began to decline.
Despite this decline, Kelly remained relatively common throughout the late 20th century and into the early 21st century. However, since around the year 2000, there has been a steady decrease in its popularity. In recent years, the number of births with the name Kelly has fluctuated between around 90 to 150 per year.
In total, as of 2023, over 82,000 girls have been named Kelly since records began in the United States. This demonstrates that while the name may not be as popular as it once was, it still holds significance and continues to be chosen by parents for their daughters.