Kelly (name)

Kelly (pronEng|ˈkɛli) is an Irish origin given name and surname. Etymologically, it originated as a patronymic surname, with the prefix "Ó" ("grandchild", or "male descendant") and the suffix "Ceallach" ("strife", or "contention"), an Old Gaelic clan name, "Ó Ceallaigh" (anglicisized as "O'Kelly").cite web |url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?name=Kelly |title=Surname: Kelly |publisher=surnamedb.com |accessdate=2008-03-16]

It's been adapted to mean "Brave Warrior" in many English language armies (for example, the Irish Army, British Army, and Australian Army), and "Warrior Princess" by American popular culture. Kelly is the second most common family name in Ireland (after Murphy).

Alternative origins are locational:
* In England, from Kelli in Devonshire, reflected as the Welsh/Cornish "celli" ("grove"), in public records dating as far back as 1194.
* In Scotland, from Kelly, near Arbroath, Angus, reflected as the Gaelic "coille" ("wood" or "grove"), in public records dating as far back as 1373.

There are several surname variants including: Cheallaigh (add the prefix "Ní" for a maiden name, [cite web |url=http://www.nualeargais.ie/gnag/ainm.htm |title=The Names (na hAinmneacha Dilse) |publisher=nualeargais.ie |accessdate=2008-03-16] instead of the masculine prefix "Ó"; see example Lisa Kelly/Laoise Ní Cheallaigh), Kelle, Kelley (often associated with pre-famine, mostly Protestant emigrants, during the Irish diaspora), Kellog, Kellye, Kellyn, and McCullough.

Kelly, and variants, was originally only a surname. With transferred use, Kelly become a popular masculine given name also, and subsequently became a popular feminine given name also. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kelly, girl's name, was ranked #999 in 1944, then steadily gained popularity through 1977 (#10), before declining (#212 in 2006); Kelly, boy's name, was ranked in the top 600 through 1939, then steadily gained popularity through 1968 (#97), before declining (#884 in 2002). [cite web |url=http://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi |title=Popularity of the male name Kelly |publisher=ssa.gov |accessdate=3008-03-16] There are several given name variants, including: Keely ("strife", or "war"), Kellee, Kelleen, Kelleigh, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie, and Kellye. [cite web |url=http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search.php?g=0&t=1&s=Kelly |title=Kelly - name meaning & origin |publisher=thinkbabynames.com |accessdate=2008-03-16] .

People with the name Kelly or its variants include:

urname

Family name
name =Kelly


imagesize=
caption=
meaning ="strife"; "contention"
region =Ireland
origin =Ireland
related names =Cheallaigh, Kelle, Kelley, Kellog, Kellye, Kellyn, McCullough
footnotes =

A - G

*Archie Kelly, Scottish footballer
*Autumn Kelly (born 1978), wife of Peter Phillips, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II
*Brigit Pegeen Kelly (born 1951), American poet
*Barbara Kelly (1924 - 2007), Canadian-born English actress
*Charles L. Kelly, US Army helicopter pilot
*Colin Kelly (1915 - 1941), World War II ace pilot
*Darren Kelly (born 1978), Northern Irish footballer
*David Kelly (1944 - 2003), British civil servant
*De-Anne Kelly (born 1954), Australian politician
*Des Kelly (born 1965), British journalist
*Eamon Kelly (actor) (1914 - 2001), Irish actor and author
*Edward Kelly, disambiguation page
*Ellsworth Kelly (born 1923), American painter and sculptor
*Emmett Kelly (1898 - 1979), American circus performer
*Eric P. Kelly (1884 - 1960), American author
*Eugene Kelly (born 1965), Scottish musician
*Fitzroy Kelly (1796 - 1880), British judge
*Francis Kelly (1803 - 1879), Canadian politician
*Francis Kelly (Medal of Honor) (1860 - 1938), American sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
*Frank Kelly (born 1938), Irish actor
*Frederick Kelly (1891 - 1974), American athlete
*Gene Kelly, American actor
*George Kelly (baseball player) (1895 - 1984), American
*George "Machine Gun" Kelly (1895 - 1954), American gangster
*George Kelly (musician), American
*George Kelly (psychologist) (1905 - 1967), American psychologist
*George Kelly (playwright), American playwright
*Gerry Kelly (broadcaster), Ulster Television presenter
*Gerry Kelly, Sinn Féin politician
*Grace Kelly (1929 - 1982), American actress, Princess of Monaco

=H - M=
*Harry Kelly (anarchist) (1895 – 1971), American anarchist, founder of Modern School in Mohegan, NY
*Harry Kelly (politician) (1895 – 1971), Governor of Michigan
*Henry Kelly (born 1946), Irish television presenter
*Henry Kelly (VC), Irish Victoria Cross recipient
*Hugh Kelly (1739 – 1777), Irish dramatist and poet
*Hugh Kelly (footballer) (born 1923), Scottish international footballer
*Hugh Kelly (goalkeeper) (1919 – 1977) Northern Ireland football goalkeeper
*Jack Kelly (actor), American actor
*Jackie Kelly (born 1964), Australian politician
*James Kelly (Irish captain) (1929 – 2003), Irish army officer
*James Kelly (U.S. representative) (1760 – 1819), U.S. politician
*James A. Kelly, U.S. politician
*James Butler Knill Kelly (1832 – 1907), Scottish-born Canadian Anglican bishop, later Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
*James M. Kelly (born 1964), American astronaut
*James M. Kelly (politician) (born 1960), American
*James K. Kelly, American senator
*James Patrick Kelly, American science fiction author
*James Plunkett Kelly (1920 – 2003), Irish writer, author of "Strumpet City"
*Janis Kelly (born 1971), Canadian volleyball player
*Jean-Baptiste Kelly (1783 – 1854), Canadian vicar-general
*Jean Louisa Kelly (born 1972), American actress
*Jill Kelly (born 1971), American actress
*Jim Kelly (born 1960), American football quarterback
*Joanne Kelly (born 1980), Canadian actress
*John B. Kelly, Sr., Olympic medaling rower; father of Grace Kelly and John B. Kelly, Jr.
*John B. Kelly, Jr., aka Jack Kelly, Olympic medaling rower, politician, president of the US Olympic Committee
*John Larry Kelly, Jr, Bell Labs scientist who formulated the Kelly criterion
*John Melville Kelly (1877 – 1962), American artist
*John Norman Davidson Kelly (1909 – 1997), theologian and principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford University
*Kate Kelly (1882 – 1964), American/Hawaiian sculptor
*Kathy Kelly, pacifist
*Kevin Kelly (editor), Executive editor of "Wired"
*Kieran Kelly (1978 - 2003), Irish jockey
*King Kelly (1857 – 1894), American baseball player
*Lisa Robin Kelly (born 1975), American actress
*Lisa Kelly (born 1977), Irish singer (Celtic Woman soloist)
*Luke Kelly (1940 – 1984), Irish singer and folk musician
*Maeve Kelly (born 1930), Irish writer
*Mark Kelly, British musician
*Mark E. Kelly (born 1964), American astronaut
*Mary Kelly (artist) (born 1941), American artist and writer
*Mary Jane Kelly (c. 1863 – 1888), British prostitute and victim of Jack the Ripper
*Matthew Kelly (born 1950), British television presenter
*Matthew Kelly (musician), American rock musician
*Melissa R. Kelly (born 1962), Maryland (USA) politician
*Michael Kelly (physicist), New Zealand-British physicist
*Michael Kelly (tenor) (1762 – 1826), Irish actor, singer and composer
*Michael Kelly (bishop), fourth Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
*Michael Kelly (sport shooter) (born 1872), American Olympic sport shooter
*Michael Kelly (editor), American writer and editor
*Michael Kelly (Lord Provost), former Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow and businessman
*Michael Kelly (American actor), American actor featured in "Dawn of the Dead" (2004)
*Michael Eugene Kelly, automotive manufacturing entrepreneur and investment holding businessman
*Mike Kelly, contemporary American journalist
*Mike Kelly (footballer) (born 1942), English football goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach
*Mike Kelly (outfielder) (born 1970), baseball outfielder
*Mike Kelly (politician), contemporary Australian politician
*Nancy Kelly (1921 – 1995), American actress
*Ned Kelly (c. 1854 – 1880), Australian outlaw

N - Z

*Pat Kelly (trade unionist) (1929 - 2004), New Zealand trade unionist
*Patrick Kelly, disambiguation page
*Paul Kelly (journalist), Australian
*Paul Kelly (musician) (born 1955), Australian singer and songwriter
*Paul Kelly (footballer), Australian
*Peter Kelley (born 1974), American weightlifter
*Richard Kelly (director) (born 1975), American
*Richard Kelly (politician) (1924 - 2005), American
*Robert Kelly (poet) (born 1935), American poet
*Ruth Kelly (born 1968), British politician
*Scott J. Kelly (born 1964), American astronaut
*Seán Kelly (cyclist) (born 1956), Irish
*Stuart Kelly, Australian rugby league player
*Sue W. Kelly (born 1936), American politician
*Thomas Kelley, author
*Thomas Kelly, cricketer
*Thomas C. Kelly, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky
*Thomas R. Kelly, Quaker mystic
*Thomas E. Kelly, director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation
*Tom Kelly (baseball) (born 1950), manager of the American baseball team the Minnesota Twins.
*Tom Kelly (engineer) (1932 - 2004), American aerospace engineer
*Tom Kelly (Ireland), media commentator and member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland
*Tom Kelly (Gaelic football), footballer
*Van Kelly, baseball player
*Walt Kelly (1913 - 1973), American cartoonist
*William Kelly (inventor) (1811 - 1888), American
*William Kelly (senator) (1786 - 1834), American
*William Kelly, Sr. (politician), American
*William Kelly (Guernsey and Blackheath), member of the Plymouth Brethren

O'Kelly

*Albéric O'Kelly de Galway, chess grandmaster
*Aloysius O'Kelly, Irish painter, brother of James Joseph O'Kelly
*Christopher O'Kelly, Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross
*Don O'Kelly, American actor
*James Joseph O'Kelly, Irish politician
*John J. O'Kelly, Irish politician
*Malcolm O'Kelly, Irish rugby player
*Michael the O'Kelly, hero created by Manning O'Brine
*Seán T. O'Kelly, the second President of Ireland
*Seumas O'Kelly, Irish author and writer

Kelley

* Abby Kelley (1811 – 1887), Quaker abolitionist and social reformer; mentor of Susan B. Anthony
* Ann Kelley, British writer
* Augustine B. Kelley (1883 – 1957), US Congressman from Pennsylvania
* Clarence M. Kelley (1911 – 1977)
* David Kelley (born 1949), American objectivist philosopher
* David E. Kelley (born 1956)
* DeForest Kelley (1920 – 1999), actor, famous for "Star Trek"
* Edward Kelley (1555 – 1597), Alchemist and spirit medium, possible creator of Enochian
* Florence Kelley (1859 – 1932), social/consumer safety/civil rights activist
* Francis Kelley (1870 – 1948)
* Geoffrey Kelley (born 1955), Canadian politician
* Harold Kelley, psychologist
*Harold Kelley (rugby league), Australian rugby league footballer
* Homer Kelley (1907 – 1983)
* Joseph ("Joe") James Kelley (1871 – 1943)
* John L. Kelley, mathematician
* Johnny Kelley (1907 – 2004), American long-distance runner
* Josh Kelley, singer/songwriter
* Kitty Kelley (born 1942)
* Oliver Hudson Kelley (1826 – 1913)
* Mike Kelley (artist) (born 1954), American artist
* Mike Kelley (baseball) (1875 – 1955), American baseball player and manager in the minor leagues
* Mike Kelley (American football), American football quarterback for San Diego Chargers
* William "Pig-Iron" Kelley (1814–1890), Quaker abolitionist, US Congressman from Pennsylvania

First name

Infobox Given Name Revised
name = Kelly


imagesize=
caption=
pronunciation="KEL"-"ee"
gender = Unisex
meaning ="descendant of Ceallach"
"bright-headed"
"strife"
"church, monastery"
region =
origin =
related names =Kellee, Kelleen, Kelleigh, Kelley, Kelli, Kellie, and Kellye
footnotes =

Kelly (women)

*Kelly Brook (born 1979), English model and actress
*Kelly Chen (born 1973), Chinese singer and actress
*Kelly Carlson American actress notable for her role on Nip/Tuck
*Kelly Clarkson (born 1982), American singer/songwriter
*Kelly Fraga (born 1974), Brazilian volleyball player
*Kelly Hu (born 1968), American actress
*Kelly Key (born 1983), Brazilian singer
*Kelly Kline (born 1981), American porn actress
*Kelly Kulick (born 1977), American pro bowler
*Kelly Llorenna
*Kelly Marie (born 1957), Scottish singer
*Kelly McCormick (born 1960), American diver
*Kelly Osbourne (born 1984), daughter of Ozzy Osbourne; co-stars in the reality show "The Osbournes"
*Kelly Poon, Chinese singer
*Kelly Preston (born 1962), American actress
*Kelly Price (born 1973), American singer
*Kelly Ripa (born 1970), American actress and talk show host
*Kelly Rowland (born 1981), American singer with Destiny's Child
*Kelly van der Veer (born 1980), Dutch male-to-female transsexual and TV personality

Kelly (men)

*Kelly Chase, broadcaster; retired hockey player
*Kelly Gruber (born 1963), Major League baseball player (Toronto Blue Jays)
*Kelly Holcomb, NFL Quarterback (Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles)
*Kelly Hrudey (born 1961), NHL goaltender and CBC hockey commentator
*Kelly Jones, singer, songwriter and guitarist (Stereophonics)
*Kelly Pavlik, WBO and WBA Middleweight Champion Boxer
*Kelly Perdew, winner of "The Apprentice 2"
*Kelly Reno (born 1966), juvenile actor
*Kelly Slater, World Champion surfer
*Kelly Stinnett, American baseball catcher
*Rob Thomas (musician), Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas, (born 1972) lead singer of Matchbox Twenty

Kelley/Kelli/Kellie

*Kellie Coffey, American singer
*Kelley Eskridge
*Kellie Hoggart, member of band Hi-5
*Kellie Martin (born 1975), American actress
*Kellie Pickler, American Idol Season 5 Finalist
*Kellie Rasberry, Radio DJ
*Kellie Suttle (born 1973), American pole vaulter
*Kellie Hayden (née Culey), wife of Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden
*Kelli Williams, American actress known for her role on "The Practice"
*Kellie Shanygne Williams, American actress

Fictional characters

*Private Kelly, the main character in Kelly's Heroes
*Kelly Roberts, Barbie's younger sister
*Kelly, valley girl drag persona created by Liam Kyle Sullivan first for the video "Shoes"
*Kelly, signature of The Onion's editorial cartoonist Ward Sutton
*Kelly Bundy, played by Christina Applegate on the TV series "Married... with Children"
*Kelly Collins, DCOM in Cadet Kelly
*Kelly Cramer, on the soap opera "One Life to Live"
*Kelly Gaines, played by Jackie Swanson on the U.S. TV series "Cheers"
*Kelly Garrett, played by Jaclyn Smith on the U.S. TV series "Charlie's Angels"
*Kelly Kapoor, played by Mindy Kaling on the U.S. version of The Office.
*Kelly Kelly, stage name of wrestler Barbie Blank
*Kelly Leak, baseball playing thug in the 1976 film "The Bad News Bears"
*Kelly Kapowski, played by Tiffani-Amber Thiessen on the U.S. TV series "Saved by the Bell"
*Kelly Taylor, played by Jennie Garth on the U.S. TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210"

References

See also

* Irish people#Surnames
* Irish people#Personal names (forenames)
* Irish name