Declining since 2003.
Popularity of Keeli since 1958
Babies named Keeli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 26 |
| 1970s | 111 |
| 1980s | 169 |
| 1990s | 271 |
| 2000s | 393 |
| 2010s | 189 |
| 2020s | 24 |
Meaning & origin
Keeli is a modern American name that first appeared on record in 1958, during a decade when creative respellings and invented names began gaining traction. It reached its peak popularity in 2002, after which its usage has steadily declined, a trajectory that has continued since 2003, according to Social Security data. The name has never entered the national top 1000, and it remains a relatively rare choice. Its origins are uncertain, though it may be a variant of the Irish-derived Keeley or Kelly. Keeli is typically given to girls and has no strong association with any particular state or region.
The name Keeli first appeared in U.S. records in 1958, during a period when invented names and respellings were becoming fashionable. It may have been influenced by the Irish surname Keeley (from Ó Caoidhe, meaning 'descendant of Caoidhe') or by Kelly (from Ó Ceallaigh). However, its exact derivation is uncertain, and it is most accurately classified as a modern coinage.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kee, Lee
Sibling names for Keeli
Names that share Keeli's style, for a brother or sister.
