Name Kelly

Kelly is a feminine name with Irish, Celtic, Gaelic origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.

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Meaning of the name Kelly

Origins and Core Meaning

Kelly is a name of Irish origin, meaning "warrior" or "church". It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic words "ceallach" (warrior) or "ceallaigh" (church), reflecting the importance of both physical and spiritual strength in Celtic culture.

Detailed Insights on Kelly

Origins

Irish, derived from the Gaelic words "ceallach" (warrior) or "ceallaigh" (church) - It also carries influences from Celtic.

Symbolic Representation

The symbolism associated with the name Kelly includes:

  • Strength and courage (warrior)
  • Faith and spirituality (church)
  • Community and belonging

Personality Traits

The name Kelly evokes a sense of warmth, friendliness, and determination. It suggests a person who is both compassionate and strong-willed, with a kind heart and a resilient spirit.

Key Personality Traits

Personal Meanings of the Name Kelly

  • Kelly means "brave warrior", "strife"and "bright-headed".

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  • Kelly/Kelley is an old Gaelic name originating from the church having to do, somehow, with the church and/or the monestary. Its original meaning has to do with some "position, job or task" that has to do with church related practice, ritual or business.

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  • It is possible that the English "Kelly" represents a shift in the pronunciation from "kali," the feminine form of the Ancient Greek word "kalos," (m.) meaning "beautiful." This same root is found in the feminine "Kallista," or "Callista," the superlative of the word meaning, "most beautiful," and alternatively "very beautiful," or "exceedingly beautiful."

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Kelly Overview & Analysis

Gender statistics

Kelly is predominantly a girl's name with a strong feminine identity. Among 581,528 people named Kelly, 501,794 are female and 79,734 are male resulting in a 86.3% female and 13.7% male. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Kelly's strong feminine identity.

Data Explanation

This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Kelly's gender association.

Popularity

Kelly classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 110 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named Kelly is nearly 0.17%, or about one in 600+ people.

Popularity and Usage Trends for Kelly

Based on the latest data from 2021 (5), 2022 (63), 2023 (49), Kelly's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is 7.16%. The name Kelly was most popular in 1968, making up 0.64% of baby names (or about one in 100+ babies), and reached its lowest point in 1911 with a usage rate of 0.0002%.

Country-Specific Prevalence
Kelly Popularity by Country
FlagCountryRankPopularity
United States1100.17%
Canada1270.14%
Australia1290.21%
New Zealand1360.18%
United Kingdom3210.06%

People named Kelly are predominantly found in Australia (AU), particularly in New South Wales (NWS), where it makes up 0.22% of the population.

Data Source

The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:

To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.

Additional Information on Kelly

Pronunciation and Phonetics

Name
Kelly
Pronunciation
  • kel-ee
  • kel-ly
  • KEHL-lee
  • K-EH-l-ee
IPA Notation
kɛˈli
Syllable
Chinese Translation of the Name Kelly
Translation
克利
Pronunce
(PinYin) : kè lì
Feng Shui
WoodFire
Kelly in Numerology
Kelly: Name to Numerology Conversion
KELLY
57
233

Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):

Kelly's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 3

  • You derive satisfaction from your passion for creativity and disrupting limits and conventional ways.
  • You desire joy and happiness for yourself and others. You believe that life is meant to be fun, so live it to the fullest.
  • You are motivated by people, conversation, laughter, entertainment, and art.

Kelly's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 8

  • You possess a strong desire to forge your own path, valuing independence and embracing individuality.
  • In certain situations, you may exhibit strong personalities; daring to venture, to stand out, to shine is your essence.

Kelly's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 2

  • You are diplomatic, calm, skillful, convincing, a good listener, caring, and loving towards others.
  • You have an innate ability to persuade, are clever, and can approach problem-solving with a calm demeanor.
Famous People Named Kelly
  • Kelly Clarkson (singer, songwriter)
  • Kelly Ripa (actress, talk show host)
  • Kelly Lynch (actress)
  • Kelly Slater (professional surfer)
  • Kelly Rowland (singer, songwriter)

User-Submitted Information about Kelly

  • Also Dutch: https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/naam/is/Kelly

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  • As of January this year, there have been 163 women in Poland with the first name Kelly.

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  • Great name that, in my opinion, can also be MASCULINE, making it UNISEX.

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Conclusion

Kelly is a name that embodies a harmonious blend of strength, kindness, and spirituality. It is a perfect choice for a child who is destined to make a positive impact on the world, both as an individual and as a member of a community.

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