Kelli
Kelli is a modern American spelling variation of Kelly, which originates from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh meaning 'descendant of Ceallach' (bright-headed or warrior). The double-L, single-I spelling emerged in the mid-20th century as a feminine form.
Current Popularity
#6690 for girls
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Spelling may require clarification (Kelly vs. Kelli)
- •Easy to pronounce across different languages
- •Has a friendly, down-to-earth quality
- •Popular in the 1970s-1990s, less common today
- •Multiple spelling variations exist
Similar Names
Famous People
Kelli Giddish
Actress, Law & Order: SVU
Kelli O'Hara
Tony Award-winning Broadway actress
Kelli Williams
Actress, The Practice
Kelli Berglund
Actress, Lab Rats
Statistics
74,891
Total births since 1880
1970
Peak year
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