UK name, mostly girls
Kelli
Small and bright, derived from a Celtic origin.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2003. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kelli is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kelli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2003 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3594, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 9 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2003. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 86 living people in the UK are called Kelli. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2004 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kelli ranked #3594 for girls in England and Wales in 2003, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 9 girls were registered as Kelli.
- • Kelli ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #461 in 2001.
- • About 86 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kelli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 92.1% of Kelli registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3594
2003
Births in 2003
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
9 births
Estimated living
86
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Kelli
In England and Wales birth records, Kelli has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 7.9% of registrations are for boys and 92.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Kelli registered for boys
- Ranked #4,685 in 2013
- 3 boys registered in 2013
- Peak: 2013 (3 births)
Kelli registered for girls
- Ranked #3,594 in 2003
- 4 girls registered in 2003
- Peak: 1996 (9 births)
Meaning
What does Kelli mean?
The name Kelli originated as an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Cailín, which means "young girl" or "little girl." The name has its roots in the Celtic languages spoken in ancient Ireland and parts of Scotland. It was initially a diminutive form of the Irish name Cáel or Cáel, meaning "slender" or "thin."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kelli can be traced back to the 16th century in Ireland. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century as a modern variation of the traditional Irish name Cailín.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kelli. One of the most famous was Kelli O'Hara, an American actress and singer born in 1976. She is best known for her work on Broadway, having starred in musicals such as "The Bridges of Madison County" and "The King and I."
Another prominent figure was Kelli Williams, an American actress born in 1970. She is best known for her role as Lindsay Dole Donnell on the television series "The Practice" and its spin-off "Boston Legal."
In the world of sports, Kelli Kuehne, an American golfer born in 1978, achieved success on the LPGA Tour, winning four tournaments during her career.
The name Kelli also has historical ties to literature. Kelli Marie, an American author born in 1971, is known for her works of fiction and poetry, including the novel "The Journal."
Additionally, Kelli Rae Wilson, an American singer-songwriter born in 1965, made a name for herself in the country music genre, releasing several albums and singles throughout her career.
While the name Kelli originated from the Irish Gaelic language, it has gained widespread popularity and recognition across various cultures and regions, with numerous individuals leaving their mark in various fields throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kelli over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kelli in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kelli, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2003, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kelli by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kelli was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3132 | 14 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2320 | 21 | 3 |
Geography
Where Kelli is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kelli. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Kelli ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #461 in 2001.
Across the UK
Kelli in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#461 in 2001
13 years of NRS records, 52 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Kelli
-
Kelli Young
singer
British singer
1981-
-
Kelli Hollis
television director; film director
British actress
1976-
-
Kelli Ali
singer; musician; guitarist; film director
English vocalist
1974-
Related
Names similar to Kelli
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kelli: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kelli in the UK right now?
In 2003, Kelli was ranked #3594 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kelli most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 9 babies registered as Kelli in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kelli?
Small and bright, derived from a Celtic origin.
How many people are called Kelli in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Kelli across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 52 more in Scotland.
Where is Kelli most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kelli ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #461 in 2001. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.