Kelly (given name)

Kelly
Gender Unisex
Language(s) English
Origin
Language(s) Irish
Word/Name 1. Ceallach
2. Ó Ceallaigh
Other names
Variant form(s) Kellie, Kallie, Calleigh, Callie
See also Kelly (surname)

Kelly is a given name in the English language. The name was originally a masculine name, however today it is mainly born by females, and in consequence Kelly is considered a unisex name.

Contents

Etymology

The masculine name originated as a Anglicised form of the Irish Ceallach. The feminine form of the name today is stated to be derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach".[1] The given name Ceallach is said to mean "bright headed", or possibly "strife"; however it could also be derived from elements meaning "monastery" or "church".[2]

Popularity

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kelly, girl's name, was ranked #999 in 1944, then steadily gained popularity through 1977 (#10), before declining (#212 in 2006); Kelly, boy's name, was ranked in the top 600 through 1939, then steadily gained popularity through 1968 (#97), before declining (#884 in 2002).[3]

In the United Kingdom, it made its way into the top 50 during the 1970s and by 1984 was the 15th most popular female first name. However, 10 years later it had declined to 53rd place and by 1999 had fallen out of the top 100.[4]

People with the name

Feminine name

Masculine name

Fictional characters with the name

References

  1. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 156, 350, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1 
  2. ^ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006), A Dictionary of First Names, Oxford Paperback Reference (2nd ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 343, ISBN 978-0-19-861060-1 
  3. ^ "Popularity of the male name Kelly". ssa.gov. http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi. Retrieved 3008-03-16. 
  4. ^ [1]