Kelis
How to say it: kuh-LEESS · /kəˈlis/
Modern coinage popularized by the American singer Kelis (born 1979); no established traditional etymology.
Kelis was the 3,736th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 26 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 68% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #7,317 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #3,736 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 26 |
| Share of births | 1 in 127,513 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −68% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #7,317 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Kelis is a newcomer: almost all of its history is from the last forty years.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kelis is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Keep exploring
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