Kellis

Meaning & origin

Kellis is a name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1918, but it has never ranked among the top 1000 names. Its peak year came in 1940, when it saw its highest usage. Since then, the name has remained relatively stable but rare, with no significant revival in recent decades. Because the name has never cracked the top 1000, it is impossible to calculate a 1-in-N ratio for given births; it remains a distinctive choice. Top states for the name are not available due to its low frequency, and no widely known famous bearers exist. Kellis likely originated as a modern variant of Kelly or a shortened form of Kellen, reflecting a trend of creating unique names from established ones.

Kellis is likely a modern coinage or a variant of Kelly, which itself is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh. It may also be a feminine form of Kell, itself a short form of names like Kellen or Keller. The name saw modest use in the mid-20th century in the United States, with its peak in 1940.