Kelle

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kelle

Pronounced KEL-ee /ˈkɛl.i/Medium

Meaning: A variant of Kelly/Kellie, from the Irish surname O Ceallaigh, variously read as 'bright-headed' or 'war, strife.' The precise sense is uncertain. A midcentury American respelling.Low

In 30 seconds: A midcentury spelling of Kelly: Kelle ties to an Irish surname (said 'KEL-ee'). Routes uncertain, which we note.

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Origin LowIrish

MeaningA variant of Kelly/Kellie, from the Irish surname O Ceallaigh, variously read as 'bright-headed' or 'war, strife.' The precise sense is uncertain. A midcentury American respelling.

U.S. rank (2003)#17075 ↘ Falling

2003 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1962

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,302

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kelle is a spelling of Kelly/Kellie, from the Irish surname O Ceallaigh, read as 'bright-headed' or 'war, strife.' It crested around 1962 and remained an uncommon form; the precise sense is uncertain, which we note (said 'KEL-ee').

It peaked in the early 1960s and stayed rare. A midcentury Irish-rooted spelling.

Did you know? Kelle is a variant of Kelly/Kellie, from the Irish O Ceallaigh ('bright-headed' or 'war'). It peaked around 1962 among softer -e spellings, then stayed rare beside Kelly; the sense is uncertain, which we note (said 'KEL-ee').

Overall data confidence 40%

References -- Kelle — Variant of Kelly/Kellie; Irish O Ceallaigh; sense uncertain

Variations

KellyKellieKellye

Nicknames

KelKelly

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kelle…

Kelly— the standard spelling

Kellie— a like spelling of the same name

Nelle— a like short -elle name

Shelley— a like midcentury girls' name

Explore names like Kelle

By themeuncertain irish variant-spelling midcentury

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kelle mean?

Kelle is a variant of Kelly/Kellie, from an Irish surname read as 'bright-headed' or 'war, strife'; the sense is uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Kelle?

It's said KEL-ee /ˈkɛl.i/ -- two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kelle a boy or girl name?

Kelle is a girl's name.

How popular is Kelle?

Kelle is an uncommon spelling; it saw its best use around the early nineteen-sixties and is rare today.