Irish · Unisex name
Kelly
“bright-headed or war”
About the name Kelly
Kelly comes from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning descendant of Ceallach. The given name Ceallach is of debated meaning; it has been explained as bright-headed and also as connected with an old word for war or strife. The Ó Ceallaigh family ruled the kingdom of Uí Maine in Connacht. As a surname it was borne by the Australian bushranger Ned Kelly, whose story inspired paintings by Sidney Nolan. As a given name it is used for both sexes, carried by the surfer Kelly Slater and the singer Kelly Clarkson. Kelley and Kellie are variant spellings.
- Meaning
- bright-headed or war
- Origin
- Irish
- Gender
- Unisex
- Pronunciation
- KEL-ee(2 syl.)
Middle names for Kelly
- Kelly Anne
- Kelly James
- Kelly Rose
- Kelly Lee
- Kelly Grace
Questions about Kelly
- What does Kelly mean?
- Kelly is an Irish name meaning "bright-headed or war".
- How do you pronounce Kelly?
- Kelly is pronounced KEL-ee, with emphasis on the first syllable.
- What are variants of Kelly?
- Variants of Kelly include Kelley, Kellie, Kelli.
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