Keely Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Keely is an Irish name meaning 'slender' or 'narrow'. It evolved from the Gaelic surname O'Caollaidhe and has seen modern usage primarily as a feminine name since the late 20th century. The name is viewed positively, associated with grace, and has variants like Kylie and Keelie. There is no biblical relevance to the name.
The name Keely is most popular in Oregon, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Keely has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Keely' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 13786th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 20994th out of 24088 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1881st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1078th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 849th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 758th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2117th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Keely' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Keely"
Pronunciation
/ˈkiːli/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Keely is derived from the Irish surname O'Caollaidhe, which is based on the Gaelic word 'caol', meaning 'slender' or 'narrow'.
Meaning
slender, narrow
Language Evolution
O'Caollaidhe, Caol, Keely
Historical Usage
The name Keely gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a feminine given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Kylie, Kili, Keelie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Keely is perceived as a modern and trendy name, often associated with qualities of grace and elegance.
Famous People
Keely Shaye Smith, Keely Hodgkinson
Explore More Keely Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Keely"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Keely"
"Keely" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 13786th of 16616 | 11 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 20994th of 24088 | 10 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1881st of 12526 | 615 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1078th of 19264 | 1,799 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 849th of 27321 | 3,514 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 758th of 35406 | 5,632 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2117th of 30306 | 1,073 |
Regional Popularity of "Keely" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Keely" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
57.30% 1276th/2227 |
74.81% 1818th/2430 |
70.66% 2016th/2853 |
46.63% 1294th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
35.07% 1030th/2937 |
41.43% 1443rd/3483 |
31.64% 1113th/3518 |
28.54% 1154th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.76% 765th/3685 |
29.50% 1320th/4475 |
16.15% 839th/5194 |
14.25% 900th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
14.05% 644th/4582 |
21.71% 1121st/5164 |
9.26% 677th/7313 |
11.74% 876th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
51.33% 2045th/3984 |
72.81% 3267th/4487 |
31.81% 2170th/6822 |
48.63% 3052nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Keely"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Keely" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.