Declining since 2007, #4,987 for girls today.
Popularity of Kelis since 2000
Babies named Kelis per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,543 |
| 2010s | 1,019 |
| 2020s | 309 |
Meaning & origin
Kelis first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 2000, a year that marks the start of its recorded use. It reached its peak popularity in 2007, the same year singer Kelis released her hit 'Bossy.' Since then, the name has been on a gradual decline, falling in rank each year after 2007. In 2025, it ranked 4,987 with a frequency of just 1 in 61,818 births. The name has seen most of its usage in Florida, though it remains rare nationwide. While its exact origins are unclear, Kelis fits a pattern of modern, melodic names that rose alongside celebrity influence in the early 2000s.
Kelis emerged as a given name in the early 2000s. It may have been inspired by the surname Kelis or a variant of names like Kelly or Keely. The name gained visibility through American singer-songwriter Kelis Rogers, known mononymously as Kelis. Its rise in the 2000s reflects a trend of using surnames and melodious, two-syllable names for girls.
Where Kelis is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Keli, Keke, Lis
Sibling names for Kelis
Names that share Kelis's style, for a brother or sister.
