When was Kelly most popular?

The name Kelly reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Kelly Dunham?

The name Kelly Dunham combines two different traditions: the first name Kelly has Celtic roots, while the surname Dunham originates from English.

Kelly Dunham — 439K & 22K bearers

Kelly Dunham is a name that combines Celtic origins. The first name Kelly is a feminine given name of Celtic origin. Kelly is a unisex given name derived from an Anglicized version of the Irish masculine name Ceallach or a transferred use of the Irish surname O'Ceallaigh. O'Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach", was Anglicized as Kelly or O'Kelly; the meaning of the personal name Ceallach is uncertain. It could mean "bright-headed," or "strife" or "monastery church" in Irish. As a name of Irish origin, the Kelly surname is partially an anglicised version of older Irish names, especially Ó Ceallaigh, though the name Kelly is also present to a lesser extent in other Celtic cultures. The surname Dunham: Dunham is a toponymic surname of English origin, deriving from several places named Dunham (from Old English: dun- hill, -ham home). Variations in spelling of surname Dunham are found across England, including: in Kent, Denham; in Devonshire and Nottingham, Douham; in Norfolk, Downham; and in Dorsetshire, Dynham. Individuals with the surname Dunham include: Ann Dunham (1942–1995), American anthropologist and pioneer in the field of microfinance Anne Dunham (1948–2025), British Para-equestrian Archie W. Dunham, former president and chief executive officer of Conoco Inc. Cyrus L. Kelly is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 439K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Kelly reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Kelly

Meaning: war, strife

Celtic

Kelly is a unisex given name derived from an Anglicized version of the Irish masculine name Ceallach or a transferred use of the Irish surname O'Ceallaigh. O'Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach", was Anglicized as Kelly or O'Kelly; the meaning of the personal name Ceallach is uncertain. It could mean "bright-headed," or "strife" or "monastery church" in Irish. As a name of Irish origin, the Kelly surname is partially an anglicised version of older Irish names, especially Ó Ceallaigh, though the name Kelly is also present to a lesser extent in other Celtic cultures.

Surname: Dunham

English

Dunham is a toponymic surname of English origin, deriving from several places named Dunham (from Old English: dun- hill, -ham home). Variations in spelling of surname Dunham are found across England, including: in Kent, Denham; in Devonshire and Nottingham, Douham; in Norfolk, Downham; and in Dorsetshire, Dynham. Individuals with the surname Dunham include: Ann Dunham (1942–1995), American anthropologist and pioneer in the field of microfinance Anne Dunham (1948–2025), British Para-equestrian Archie W. Dunham, former president and chief executive officer of Conoco Inc. Cyrus L.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Kelly is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Kelly by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Kelly Dunham

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Kelly Dunham:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

9

Soul Urge Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

9

Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Kelly?: The first name Kelly originates from Celtic. Kelly is a unisex given name derived from an Anglicized version of the Irish masculine name Ceallach or a transferred use of the Irish surname O'Ceallaigh. O'Ceallaigh, which means "descendant of Ceallach", was Anglicized as Kelly or O'Kelly; the meaning of the personal name Ceallach is uncertain. It could mean "bright-headed," or "strife" or "monastery church" in Irish. As a name of Irish origin, the Kelly surname is partially an anglicised version of older Irish names, especially Ó Ceallaigh, though the name Kelly is also present to a lesser extent in other Celtic cultures.
When was Kelly most popular?: The name Kelly reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Dunham?: The surname Dunham originates from English. Dunham is a toponymic surname of English origin, deriving from several places named Dunham (from Old English: dun- hill, -ham home). Variations in spelling of surname Dunham are found across England, including: in Kent, Denham; in Devonshire and Nottingham, Douham; in Norfolk, Downham; and in Dorsetshire, Dynham. Individuals with the surname Dunham include: Ann Dunham (1942–1995), American anthropologist and pioneer in the field of microfinance Anne Dunham (1948–2025), British Para-equestrian Archie W. Dunham, former president and chief executive officer of Conoco Inc. Cyrus L.
What are the origins of the name Kelly Dunham?: The name Kelly Dunham combines two different traditions: the first name Kelly has Celtic roots, while the surname Dunham originates from English.