Meaning & Origin
A surname from Irish, Anglicised from the Irish Ó Ceallaigh.
Kelly is a girl's and boy's baby name of Irish origin, anglicized from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach," with ceallach possibly meaning "bright-headed" or "warrior." It made the leap from Irish surname to American first name in the mid-20th century.
Kelly cracked the U.S. top 10 in the 1970s, making it one of the quintessential names of that decade. Kelly Clarkson — the first American Idol winner — gave it a fresh, spirited energy in the 2000s. Bright, approachable, and genuinely stylish, Kelly bridges Irish heritage and American optimism effortlessly.