How Many People Are Named Kelly?
Complete statistics for the name Kelly: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Kelly means 'warrior' and it's an uncommon female name. That's 1 in 643 Americans who share this name, making it pretty unique. The peak was in 1968 when 20,197 babies were named Kelly.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 2 represents balance and harmony.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 49All 555,958 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1968Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Kelly Through the Generations
Kelly has seen its popularity rise and fall over the decades, peaking in 1968 with 20,197 births. Today, there are 512,857 people named Kelly living in the US, with an average age of 49. The age distribution shows a fairly even spread, with 8% under 30, 70% aged 30-60, and 22% over 60, indicating a strong presence across different generations.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Kelly
Kelly is a unisex given name derived from an Anglicized version of the Irish masculine name Ceallach or a transferred use of the Irish surname O'Ceallaigh. O'Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach", was Anglicized as Kelly or O'Kelly; the meaning of the personal name Ceallach is uncertain. It could mean "bright-headed," or "strife" or "monastery church" in Irish. As a name of Irish origin, the Kelly surname is partially an anglicised version of older Irish names, especially Ó Ceallaigh, though the name Kelly is also present to a lesser extent in other Celtic cultures. Kelly is historic…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Kelly's Irish roots
📄 About the Name Kelly
How Many People Have the Name Kelly?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 255,516 people in the United States currently share the name Kelly. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,297 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Kelly a Common or Rare Name?
Kelly is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Kelly Mean?
Kelly means "warrior" and comes from Irish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 2.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Kelly in SSA data, approximately 13% are male and 87% are female.
When Was Kelly Most Popular?
The name Kelly reached peak popularity in 1968, with 20,197 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Kelly?
Approximately 255,516 people named Kelly live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 255,516. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,297 Americans.
Is Kelly a rare name?
Kelly is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,297 Americans has this name.
What does the name Kelly mean?
Kelly means "warrior" and comes from Irish origins.
Is Kelly more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 13% of people named Kelly are male and 87% are female.
When was Kelly most popular?
Kelly peaked in 1968 with 20,197 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.