Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Kellee since 1951
Babies named Kellee per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 163 |
| 1960s | 864 |
| 1970s | 1,052 |
| 1980s | 918 |
| 1990s | 487 |
| 2000s | 171 |
| 2010s | 54 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Kellee entered U.S. naming records in 1951, a period when Kelly was rising in popularity. The name reached its peak rank in 1978, a time when creative spellings like Kellee and Kellie were common attempts to feminize the name. Since 1985, usage of Kellee has steadily fallen, reflecting a broader decline in the popularity of Kelly variants. The name has never been among the top 1000 nationally, and no states have recorded it as a top name. Kellee remains recognizable as a distinctive spelling of a classic Irish surname name.
Kellee is a modern respelling of the Irish name Kelly, which originates from the Gaelic surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Ceallach'. The personal name Ceallach is of debated etymology, with some sources suggesting it derives from 'ceall' meaning 'church' or 'monastery', while others propose 'cath' meaning 'battle'. The spelling Kellee emerged in the mid-20th century as part of a trend of creative respellings aiming to feminineize the name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kel, Lee, Kiki
Sibling names for Kellee
Names that share Kellee's style, for a brother or sister.
