Find out how popular the first name Kelby has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kelby by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kelby is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 70% of people named Kelby being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 20 male babies and 9 female babies born with the name Kelby.

The history of the first name Kelby

The name Kelby is an English given name that originated in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "ceol" meaning "ship" and "byrig" meaning "town" or "settlement". The combination of these two words suggests that the name was likely first used in coastal regions or settlements near bodies of water where ships would dock.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled variations such as "Chelebi", "Keleby", and "Kelbie". These spellings can be found in ancient records and documents from the 12th and 13th centuries in parts of England and Scotland. The name was particularly common in the northern regions of both countries during this time period.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name Kelby can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Chelebi" in reference to a landowner or individual residing in what is now Yorkshire.

While the name does not appear to have any direct ties to religious texts or scriptures, it was not uncommon for individuals with this name to be found in monastic records and chronicles from medieval monasteries and abbeys throughout the British Isles.

Notable individuals named Kelby throughout history include:

1. Kelby of Repton (c. 1225 - c. 1290), an English monk and chronicler who documented events at Repton Abbey in Derbyshire.

2. Sir Kelby de Furnivall (c. 1300 - 1363), an English knight and landowner who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

3. Kelby Smeaton (c. 1450 - 1510), a Scottish merchant and trader who established trade routes between Scotland and the Netherlands.

4. Kelby Stanhope (1555 - 1629), an English courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

5. Kelby Aitkens (1679 - 1744), a Scottish philosopher and academic who taught at the University of Edinburgh and was influential in the Scottish Enlightenment.

While the name Kelby fell out of more widespread use in the modern era, it has persisted as a traditional English given name, particularly in parts of the United Kingdom and among families with historical ties to the regions where it originated.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kelby was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kelby, please contact us.

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