Kelsey
How to say it: KEL-see · /ˈkɛlsi/
From an Old English place name meaning 'Cenel's island' or 'ship's victory island'.
Kelsey was the 585th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 335 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 65% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #823 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #585 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 335 |
| Share of births | 1 in 6,793 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −65% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #823 |
| In France, 2025 | #667 among girls’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
The 1990s marked the high point for Kelsey. Now far below that level, it looks set to decline more.
What goes with it
Bright KEL see energy comes through in two syllables that feel crisp and breathy. Hailey and Bailey echo that sound.
Nicknames
- Kels
Honouring a Kelsey in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Kelsey is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #667 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Kelsey
- Kelsey Asbille (born 1991)American actress
- Kelsey Plum (born 1994)American basketball player
- Kelsey Serwa (born 1989)Canadian freestyle skier
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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