Kelly

Meaning of Kelly

Means "bright-headed" or "warrior."

Kelly has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Kelly

Kelly is climbing again, up to #852 in 2025 from #869 in 2024 after peaking at #111 in 2000.

Kelly as a boy's name

Kelly is also used as a boy's name. Kelly comes from an Irish surname. It means "bright-headed" or "warrior."

Notable people named Kelly

• Kelly Clarkson
  Singer, songwriter, talk show host
• Kelly Ripa
  Actress and talk show host
• Kelly Rowland
  Singer, songwriter, actress
• Kelly McGillis
  Actress (Top Gun)
• Kelly Osbourne
  Television personality, singer

More Irish names

Questions about the name Kelly

What does the name Kelly mean?

Kelly means means "bright-headed" or "warrior.", and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Kelly a boy's or a girl's name?

Kelly is used for both boys and girls in the United States, which makes it a unisex name.

How popular is the name Kelly?

In 2025, Kelly ranked #852 for girls, up from #869 the year before.

When was Kelly most popular?

Kelly peaked at #111 in 2000.