Kelsey
Girl name · English · Scandinavian · Scottish
MeaningCeol's island · Old English
- US rank
- #814
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #23 in 1992
335 babies were named Kelsey in the US in 2025. It has dropped 289 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1942–2025
US births per million boys, 1891–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Kelsey you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Kelsey
Kelsey Grammer
American actor
Choose Kelsey and your child shares a first name with Kelsey Grammer, an American actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Kelsey, like who?” Kelsey Grammer's Wikipedia article is available in 63 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Kelsey Grammer on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,798 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Kelsey, 335 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Kelsey would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKelsey first shows up in US birth records in 1891, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 134 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1992, when it ranked #23. Today it's #814, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowKelsey was 9.7× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 495 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 4,798.
- TrendKelsey has slipped 289 places over the last five years and now sits at #814. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedKelsey is most popular in Maryland, where it ranks #427, followed by Tennessee (#453) and Connecticut (#459). It's in the top 1,000 in 25 states.
- MeaningIn Old English, Kelsey means “Ceol's island”. Our records link it to English, Scandinavian and Scottish roots.
About the name Kelsey
Kelsey is a girl name of English, Scandinavian and Scottish origin meaning “Ceol's island”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-sey”. US birth records list Kelsey for girls from 1942 to 2025, in 82 of those 84 years. Its best year was 1992, when it ranked #23 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #814, with 335 babies.
Origin:English namesScandinavian namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 3.3 | 306,513 girls |
| 1950s | 7.2 | 139,082 girls |
| 1960s | 13 | 78,864 girls |
| 1970s | 72 | 13,822 girls |
| 1980s | 1,571 | 637 girls |
| 1990s | 4,705 | 213 girls |
| 2000s | 1,272 | 786 girls |
| 2010s | 564 | 1,772 girls |
| 2020s | 280 | 3,571 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 5.5 | 182,186 boys |
| 1910s | 15 | 66,225 boys |
| 1920s | 12 | 86,281 boys |
| 1930s | 10 | 99,206 boys |
| 1940s | 9.1 | 110,254 boys |
| 1950s | 8.0 | 124,378 boys |
| 1960s | 13 | 78,740 boys |
| 1970s | 50 | 20,076 boys |
| 1980s | 76 | 13,113 boys |
| 1990s | 75 | 13,356 boys |
| 2000s | 24 | 41,667 boys |
| 2010s | 9.7 | 102,775 boys |
| 2020s | 7.8 | 127,932 boys |
Other spellings of Kelsey
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Kelsey
What does the name Kelsey mean?
Kelsey means “Ceol's island” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Kelsey?
Kelsey has English, Scandinavian, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Kelsey a boy or girl name?
Kelsey is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Kelsey?
Kelsey ranked #814 for US girls in 2025, given to 335 babies. Its best year was 1992 (#23).