Irish girl name
Kelly Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Kelly means bright-headed or strife (debated). From the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh.
Kelly comes from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, one of the most common surnames in Ireland. Its meaning is debated, with bright-headed and strife both suggested. As a first name it spread in the United States in the twentieth century and was used for both boys and girls before settling mainly on girls. The Irish form Ceallaigh is pronounced KAL-ee. Kelly remains a familiar name in Ireland, Britain and Australia.
Pronunciation by a native speaker.
How to pronounce Kelly
KEL·ee
Kelly has 2 syllables. The stress falls on the first syllable (shown in bold). Say it as written in the respelling, with each capitalised part spoken a little louder.
Why the spelling looks different from the sound
- Welsh letters: In Welsh, "ll" is a breathy "hl", "ff" is an English F, "dd" is a soft English "th" as in "this", "w" can be a vowel (as in "oo"), and "rh" is a breathy R.
More on silent letters · Irish names people mispronounce.
Irish, Welsh and Gaelic dialects differ from region to region, so you may hear more than one correct version.
Variants of Kelly
KelliKellieKelleyKelsey
Well-known people named Kelly
Kelly Clarkson, Grace Kelly.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kelly mean?
Kelly means "bright-headed or strife (debated)". From the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh.
How do you pronounce Kelly?
Kelly is pronounced KEL-ee.
What is the origin of Kelly?
Kelly is an Irish girl name. In Irish it is written Ceallaigh.
How many syllables are in Kelly?
Kelly has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first one.
Why is Kelly spelled the way it is?
The spelling follows Irish spelling conventions rather than English ones. In Welsh, "ll" is a breathy "hl", "ff" is an English F, "dd" is a soft English "th" as in "this", "w" can be a vowel (as in "oo"), and "rh" is a breathy R.
What are other spellings of Kelly?
Other spellings and forms include Kelli, Kellie, Kelley, Kelsey.