Kelsey first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Kelsey

A feminine name of English origin meaning "From the island of ships".

Popularity of Kelsey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kelsey is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 97% of people named Kelsey being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 443 female babies and 11 male babies born with the name Kelsey.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 11 baby boys were named Kelsey in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 11 443
2022 23 466
2021 11 475
2020 15 569
2019 15 664
2018 17 739
2017 19 787
2016 10 857
2015 18 955
2014 20 1,017
2013 12 1,049
2012 27 1,212
2011 25 1,266
2010 19 1,349
2009 24 1,521
2008 33 1,716
2007 38 1,699
2006 47 1,898
2005 38 1,960
2004 72 2,198
2003 42 2,569
2002 51 2,883
2001 70 3,267
2000 62 3,669
1999 91 4,400
1998 99 5,549
1997 99 5,573
1996 140 7,655
1995 157 8,183
1994 166 9,749
1993 161 11,378
1992 169 11,713
1991 186 11,433
1990 197 9,494
1989 250 9,256
1988 213 5,453
1987 161 4,574
1986 140 2,516
1985 121 1,699
1984 122 1,555
1983 115 1,116
1982 106 791
1981 100 490
1980 94 309
1979 90 222
1978 85 164
1977 84 144
1976 101 116
1975 97 105
1974 73 88

The history of the first name Kelsey

Kelsey is an English given name with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "ċel" meaning "brook" or "chalky stream" and "ēg" meaning "island" or "dry ground." The name was originally a surname referring to someone who lived near a chalky stream or on dry ground near a stream.

The name Kelsey first appeared in historical records in the 12th century, particularly in areas of England such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. It was initially used as a locational surname, but over time, it transitioned into a given name.

One of the earliest documented instances of Kelsey as a first name dates back to the 14th century, with a reference to a man named Kelsey of Bramham in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1379.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Kelsey Whetstone was recorded as a member of the English gentry in Hertfordshire. Whetstone was a prominent family name during that era, and the combination of Kelsey and Whetstone suggests that the name Kelsey held some significance among the gentry.

During the 16th century, a man named Kelsey Throckmorton was a member of the English landed gentry and served as a member of parliament for Worcestershire in 1553. Throckmorton was a prominent surname in English history, and the use of Kelsey as a given name within this family further solidified its importance.

In the 17th century, a woman named Kelsey Rayner was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1642. Rayner was a respected family name in the region, and the inclusion of Kelsey as a given name for a female suggests that it had become more widely accepted for both genders by that time.

Another notable figure from history bearing the name Kelsey was Kelsey Jones, born in 1785 in Wales. Jones was a Welsh poet and writer who gained recognition for his works in the early 19th century, further cementing the name's association with literary and artistic circles.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kelsey, 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!

"Kelsey first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 14, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelsey-meaning-and-history/.

"Kelsey first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kelsey-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 14 November, 2024

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

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