Kelly
Boy name · #1867 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kelly? In official American birth records, Kelly has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 84 baby boys were named Kelly, placing it at #1867 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1555, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,429 boys born in 2025 was named Kelly.
The 145-year story
Kelly first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1967, when 3,093 boys were named Kelly — good for #102 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Kelly per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kelly against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kelly in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kelly is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kelly will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kelly is most common
State-level data for Kelly is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Kelly
Statistically, parents drawn to Kelly tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kerry, Barry, Kurt, Monty, and Kent.
KerryBarryKurtMontyKentMartyKirkJeffery
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kelly | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84 | #1867 |
| 2024 | 109 | #1583 |
| 2023 | 94 | #1744 |
| 2022 | 122 | #1479 |
| 2021 | 114 | #1538 |
| 2020 | 110 | #1518 |
| 2019 | 107 | #1564 |
| 2018 | 103 | #1593 |
| 2017 | 115 | #1467 |
| 2016 | 118 | #1456 |
| 2015 | 104 | #1555 |
| 2014 | 105 | #1526 |
| 2013 | 103 | #1540 |
| 2012 | 106 | #1514 |
| 2011 | 108 | #1495 |
| 2010 | 101 | #1565 |
| 2009 | 140 | #1257 |
| 2008 | 113 | #1452 |
| 2007 | 154 | #1152 |
| 2006 | 139 | #1202 |
| 2005 | 127 | #1245 |
| 2004 | 160 | #1022 |
| 2003 | 146 | #1060 |
| 2002 | 185 | #884 |
| 2001 | 174 | #902 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kelly?
In official American birth records, the name Kelly first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Kelly a popular boy name?
Kelly ranked #1867 among boys in 2025 with 84 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1555.
When was the name Kelly most popular?
Kelly peaked in 1967, when 3,093 American boys received the name (ranked #102 that year). Since 1967 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kelly?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,429 newborn American boys was named Kelly. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.