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How Many People Are Named Kelly?
Estimated people named Kelly living in the U.S. today
500,347
Gender distribution
14% male · 86% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 555,958
- Peak year: 1968 (20,197 births)
- Estimated living today: 500,347
Kelly by age group — who carries the name today?
Kelly popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Kelly
Kelly has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 555,958 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 500,347 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 683 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Kellys you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Kelly in the US?
An estimated 500,347 people named Kelly are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Kelly common — about 1 in 683 Americans.
Is Kelly a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Kelly is 14% male and 86% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Kelly most popular?
Kelly peaked in 1968, when 20,197 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Kelly?
Kelly ranks #84 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 33 out of 100 (higher means rarer).