Kelly (name) facts for kids
Kelly is a well-known name that can be used as a given name (a first name) or a family name (a surname). While it is often thought of as a girl's name, some boys also have the name Kelly.
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What Does the Name Kelly Mean?
The name Kelly has a long history. As a family name, it has many different origins, meaning it came from various places and families. It became a family name a long time ago, in the 19th century.
Where Did the Name Kelly Come From?
At first, Kelly was mostly used as a boy's first name in the late 1800s. However, its use for girls started to grow around the 1940s. By 1957, the name Kelly became more popular for girls than for boys. This was largely because of the famous American actress Grace Kelly. She was a very popular movie star who later became a princess.
How Popular is the Name Kelly?
As a girl's name, Kelly was not very common in 1950, ranking around #900. But it quickly became much more popular! It reached its highest popularity around 1977, when it was one of the top 10 most popular names for girls. Even though its popularity has gone down a bit since then, Kelly is still a well-liked name for girls today.
Famous People Named Kelly
Many famous people share the name Kelly. Here are a few examples:
- Kelly Ayotte is a politician who served as a United States Senator.
- Kelly Carlson is an actress known for her roles in television shows.
- Kelly Clarkson is a very famous singer and television personality. She won the first season of American Idol.
