Where does the name Kelsey come from?

Kelsey is a girl name of Old English origin.

Is Kelsey a boy or a girl name?

Kelsey is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 97% of children given the name Kelsey are girls and 3% are boys.

How popular is the name Kelsey in 2023?

Kelsey ranks #664 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1992 with 11,882 babies.

How do you pronounce Kelsey?

Kelsey is pronounced KEL-see (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Kelsey?

Kelsey is also written as Kelsie, Kelcey, Kelci.

A name from Old English · Girl

Kelsey

From an Old English place name probably meaning 'Cenel's island' (Cenel being a personal name). Originally a surname; adopted as a unisex given name and now predominantly feminine in U.S. usage.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 132-year arc in numbers.

149,651 U.S. births recorded from 1891–2023.

Popularity · 1891–2023

455 births in 2023

1891 1957 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

KFrom an Old English place name probably meaning 'Cenel's island' (Cenel being a personal name). Originally a surname; adopted as a unisex given name and now predominantly feminine in U.S. usage.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Kelsey".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Kelsie Most common Kelcey Kelci

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Kelsey.

K
Kelsey Grammer (actor; surname)
K
Kelsea Ballerini (country singer; variant)

Quick answers

People often ask about Kelsey.

What does the name Kelsey mean?: Kelsey means from an Old English place name probably meaning 'Cenel's island' (Cenel being a personal name). Originally a surname; adopted as a unisex given name and now predominantly feminine in U.S. usage.
Where does the name Kelsey come from?: Kelsey is a girl name of Old English origin.
Is Kelsey a boy or a girl name?: Kelsey is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 97% of children given the name Kelsey are girls and 3% are boys.
How popular is the name Kelsey in 2023?: Kelsey ranks #664 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1992 with 11,882 babies.
How do you pronounce Kelsey?: Kelsey is pronounced KEL-see (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Kelsey?: Kelsey is also written as Kelsie, Kelcey, Kelci.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.