Kelly is a name that has long been used for babies of any gender. It began as a Scots-Irish surname but transitioned to a first name meaning "warrior," "wood," or "born on a farm." Other names meaning "warrior" include Alex/Alexander, Alvaro, Ansel, Callan, Casey, Duncan, Dustin, Lewis, Liam, Markus, Ned, Oscar, Roger, and Troy for boys; for girls, "warrior" names include Aesira, Ailith, Aloisa, Alvara, Bellatrix, Louisa, Maia, Malou, Marcheline, and Zelda.
Famous Kellys in history and pop culture include singers Kelly Clarkson and Kelly Rowland, TV show hosts Kelly Ripa and Kelly Osbourne, actor Kelly Preston, and athletes Kelly Oubre, Kelly Slater, and Kelly Kelly. Kelly Kapoor was a beloved character on the sitcom 'The Office,' played by Mindy Kaling.
Now predominantly popular as a girl name, Kelly's biggest year in the U.S. was 1977, when its usage went up 150% from the prior year. It has declined ever since but is still more popular today than it was in the early 1900s, back when it was largely a boy name.
Kelly in quotes:
"I'd rather not have a moment when I'm known for my looks; being funny and interesting lasts longer." — Kelly Ripa
"God will never give you anything you can't handle, so don't stress." — Kelly Clarkson
“We all have different things that we go through in our everyday life, and it's really important to know just at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what you face, you know, that you're going to win at the end of the day. You got to believe in yourself."
— Kelly Rowland
Meanings
Gaelic Baby Names Meaning:
In Gaelic Baby Names the meaning of the name Kelly is: Warrior.
Scottish Baby Names Meaning:
In Scottish Baby Names the meaning of the name Kelly is: Wood. Surname and place name that has only been used as a first name (either gender) in the latter half of the 20th century.