Kelsey
Kelsey is a given name of English origin. The name most probably derives from an Old English given name Cēolsiġe, which meant "ship's victory", or it could be a place name meaning "Cenel's island". "Cenel's Island" is a combination of the Old English word "cenel", meaning "fierce", and "eg", meaning island.
Meaning & Origin of Kelsey
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kelsey is a given name of English origin. The name most probably derives from an Old English given name Cēolsiġe, which meant "ship's victory", or it could be a place name meaning "Cenel's island". "Cenel's Island" is a combination of the Old English word "cenel", meaning "fierce", and "eg", meaning island.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Kelsey
Kelsey first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1942, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1992, when 11,713 Kelseys were born — ranking #23 that year. As of 2026, Kelsey ranks #719 for baby girls with 394 births, falling sharply (-34%). In total, more than 151K Kelseys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Kelsey
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Kelsey Asbille (born 1991), American actress
- Kelsey Bing (born 1997), American field hockey player
- Kelsey Bone (born 1991), American basketball player
- Kelsey Bulkin (born 1985), American singer and musician
- Kelsey Card (born 1992), American athlete
- Kelsey Davis (born 1987), American soccer player
- Kelsey Grammer (born 1955), American actor, director, and writer
- Kelsey Griffin (born 1987), American–Australian basketball player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Kelsey
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kelsey is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kelsey
What does the name Kelsey mean?
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About the name Kelsey
Kelsey is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1942 and has accumulated 151K births in the dataset. Kelsey's peak popularity came in 1992 when it ranked #23. Use the chart and map above to compare Kelsey's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1992 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.