Kelli
About Kelli
Kelli is a feminine name that originated as a variant spelling of Kelly. With Irish roots, it derives from the surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceallach' (which means 'bright-headed' or 'troublesome'). This spelling variation gained significant popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, peaking in the early 1980s. Kelli offers a slightly more feminine and modernized spelling compared to Kelly. The name has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining a touch of spunk that reflects its Celtic heritage. Though its peak popularity has passed, Kelli remains recognizable and continues to be used, appreciated for its cheerful sound and straightforward spelling that distinguishes it slightly from the more traditional Kelly.
Pronounced KEL-ee.
As of October 2026, Kelli ranked #6690 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #115 in 1969.
AI-written. Reviewed by Sophie Kihm
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #3,164 | 52 | 29.1 |
| 2015 | #3,732 | 41 | 23 |
| 2016 | #3,818 | 40 | 22.6 |
| 2017 | #4,632 | 30 | 17.4 |
| 2018 | #3,966 | 37 | 21.8 |
| 2019 | #3,820 | 39 | 23.2 |
| 2020 | #4,315 | 32 | 19.8 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Kelli on lists
Famous Kellis
- Kelli Renee Williams
American actress
- Kelli Marie Giddish
American actress
- Kelli Christine O'Hara
American actress
- Kelli Brianne Garner
American actress
- Kelli Kuehne
American golfer
- Kelli Ali
American singer of group Sneaker Pimps
- Kelli McCarty
American actress; Miss USA 1991
- Kelli Berglund
American actress
- Kelli Hollis
English actress
- Kelli Young
English pop singer of group Liberty X
- Kelli Joan Maroney
American actress
- Kelli Hubly
American soccer player
Kelli in pop culture
- Kelli
empousai in Percy Jackson series