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♂ Kelly (boy)
What does Kelly mean?
Kelly 
▼ as a boys' name (also used more commonly as girls' name Kelly) is pronounced KEL-ee. It is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and the meaning of Kelly is "strife, war". Transferred use of the surname. Originally an anglicized form of the male name Ceallach, possibly meaning "strife", "bright-headed", or "church, monastery". TV producer David Kelley.
Variations
VARIANT Kelley
SEE ALSO Cillian, Keeley, Killian
FEMININE FORMS Callie, Ceallach, Keely
CREATIVE FORMS(male) Kayly, ..
(female) Keldy, ..
MIDDLE NAME PAIRINGS
Kelly Antwan (K.A.), ..
How popular is Kelly?
Kelly is a very popular first name for men (#248 out of 1220, Top 20%) and also a very popular last name for all people (#69 out of 150436, Top 1%). (2000 U.S. CENSUS)
Kelly reached its peak position of #123 in the U.S. during 1960-1969, and is presently at #1605. (TOP BABY NAMES, 2018)
Which version is better?
Cillian (#1040 FROM RECENT DATA), Kelley and Killian (#286) are the popular related forms of Kelly (#1605). Usage of these relations of Kelly reached its peak in the 1960s (USAGE OF 0.2%) and is somewhat lower today (USAGE 0.1%, 45% LESS), with the version Kelly becoming less trendy. Cillian and Killian are two of the more chic names for newborns among these.
Similar Names
Kelly▼ is alike in pronunciation to Caily, Caley, Coley, Colla, Colley, Culley, Cully, Kaley, Kayley, Kealey, Kealy, Keelie, Keely, Kellagh and Kiley. Other recommended sound-alike names are Billy▼, Denly, Hedly (see Hedley), Hilly, Keary, Kelan, Kelbey, Kelby, Keld, Kell, Kellan, Kellby, Kelle, Kellen, Keller, Kellin, Kelsey, Kelsy (see Kelsey), Kelvyn, Kelvys (see Kelvis), Kelwyn, Kenley, Kenly, Kenny▼, Kerby, Kerry▼, Key, Klay, Kolby▼, Lesly, Lezly, Neely, Penly, Redly (see Redley), Reilly▼, Rolly, Seely, Shelly, Skelly, Sully, Tully, Wally, Wesly and Willy. These names tend to be less commonly used than Kelly.
See names in meaning and etymology.[Top]