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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Uncertain — inherits the disputed meaning of Kelly (possibly 'bright-headed, ' 'strife, ' or 'church')
- Origin
- Irish (spelling variant)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- KEL-ee
Kelli is an Irish spelling variant, though its exact meaning isn't settled. It traces back to Kelly, and different sources define that root as 'bright-headed,' 'strife,' or 'church' — so there's no single agreed-upon meaning attached to it. It's a name worth choosing for its sound and Irish roots rather than for a fixed definition.
Meaning & Origin of Kelli
Meaning: Uncertain — inherits the disputed meaning of Kelly (possibly 'bright-headed, ' 'strife, ' or 'church').
Origin: Irish (spelling variant).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Kelli
KEL-eeIPA /ˈkɛli/
Popularity of Kelli
Kelli peaked in 1969, when it ranked #115 nationally with 3,055 baby girls given the name. By 2024 it had dropped to #7392, with just 15 babies given the name that year.
Names Like Kelli
These names have followed a similar path to Kelli in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Kelli mean?
Uncertain — inherits the disputed meaning of Kelly (possibly ‘bright-headed, ‘ ‘strife, ‘ or ‘church’). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Kelli?
Kelli is pronounced KEL-ee (IPA: /ˈkɛli/).
Is Kelli a popular name right now?
Kelli peaked at #115 in 1969 and is ranked #7392 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1945–2024.)
Make Kelli Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kelli, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Kelli? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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