Kelley first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Kelley

A feminine given name meaning "bright-headed" or "having bright hair".

Popularity of Kelley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kelley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 91% of people named Kelley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 17 female babies and 14 male babies born with the name Kelley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 14 baby boys were named Kelley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 14 17
2022 12 17
2021 19 20
2020 15 29
2019 19 24
2018 20 29
2017 16 22
2016 18 22
2015 15 28
2014 9 39
2013 17 27
2012 15 46
2011 22 38
2010 17 54
2009 16 54
2008 21 63
2007 20 65
2006 22 89
2005 16 73
2004 19 106
2003 24 129
2002 20 170
2001 32 155
2000 31 206
1999 35 235
1998 24 275
1997 27 296
1996 32 351
1995 37 420
1994 48 498
1993 34 570
1992 64 703
1991 57 700
1990 59 887
1989 93 957
1988 62 1,125
1987 63 1,197
1986 73 1,000
1985 75 761
1984 67 796
1983 63 908
1982 90 1,007
1981 97 952
1980 111 1,084
1979 80 1,201
1978 85 1,364
1977 87 1,502
1976 118 1,100
1975 101 1,169
1974 116 1,208

The history of the first name Kelley

The name Kelley is an English given name derived from the Old Irish Gaelic word "cailleach," which means "veiled one" or "nun." It is believed to have originated as a descriptive term for a woman who wore a veil or headdress, possibly as a symbol of religious devotion or modesty.

The name Kelley is closely related to the Irish surname Kelly, which has its roots in the ancient Gaelic clan Ó Ceallaigh. This clan was prominent in various parts of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Galway, Roscommon, and Sligo, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kelley can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the early 17th century. The annals mention several individuals with the surname Kelly, including Tadhg Ó Ceallaigh, who was a notable poet and historian in the 15th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the given name Kelley. One of the most famous was Kelley Wearstler, an American interior designer born in 1967. She is renowned for her eclectic and distinctive design style, and has worked on numerous high-profile projects for celebrities and luxury brands.

Another notable Kelley was Kelley Jones, an American comic book artist born in 1962. He is best known for his work on various Batman titles for DC Comics, where he developed a distinct and moody artistic style that captured the dark and gothic atmosphere of Gotham City.

In the world of sports, Kelley Sheehan was an American professional golfer born in 1976. She won several tournaments on the LPGA Tour and represented the United States in the Solheim Cup, a prestigious team event between the top female golfers from Europe and the United States.

Kelley Stoltz is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in 1975. He is known for his eclectic blend of indie rock, pop, and psychedelic influences, and has released several critically acclaimed albums since the early 2000s.

Finally, Kelley Morse was an American artist and illustrator born in 1928. She is renowned for her vibrant and whimsical illustrations, which often featured anthropomorphic animals and magical scenes. Her work has appeared in numerous children's books and magazines throughout her career.

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 Kelley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Kelley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelley-meaning-and-history/.

"Kelley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Kelley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelley-meaning-and-history/.

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