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Keli

Girl name · 13 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Keli: 13 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 8 births in 1974.

A name with several possible origins, Keli is most often seen as a modern, phonetic variant of Kelly, derived from the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning "descendant of Ceallach" – a personal name thought to mean "bright-headed" or "warrior." Alternatively, it can be a Hawaiian name meaning "the beloved one." Famous bearers are scarce, though the name is occasionally found in celebrity families, such as with American actress Keli Price, known for her work in film and television. There are no major places directly named Keli, but the root Kelly can be seen in places like County Kelly in Ireland. The spelling Keli offers a streamlined, melodic alternative to the more common Kelly, and was given a modest popularity boost in the 1980s, though it remains relatively rare in Scotland.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
19748 babies
Latest (1978)
#4095 babies
Total births
13since 1974
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1974 · 8
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).