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Kellene

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kellene

Pronounced kuh-LEEN /kəˈliːn/Medium

Meaning: Kellene joins Kelly, an Irish name from a word for 'bright-headed' or 'strife', to the popular suffix -ene, and it chimes closely with Colleen, from the Irish for 'girl'. It reads as a soft, Irish-flavored coinage. The 'girl' sense comes through Colleen.Low

In 30 seconds: Kellene blends Kelly with -ene, echoing Colleen, 'girl'. It rose at mid-century, peaked around 1967, and stayed uncommon (said kuh-LEEN).

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Origin LowIrish, English

MeaningKellene joins Kelly, an Irish name from a word for 'bright-headed' or 'strife', to the popular suffix -ene, and it chimes closely with Colleen, from the Irish for 'girl'. It reads as a soft, Irish-flavored coinage. The 'girl' sense comes through Colleen.

U.S. rank (1989)#6747 ↘ Falling

1989 U.S. births12 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1967

Total births (all-time)≈ 425

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

Kellene pairs Kelly with the suffix -ene, landing very near Colleen, from the Irish for 'girl'. It belongs to the mid-century vogue for Irish-sounding names dressed with -ene and -ene-style endings.

It stayed uncommon, only a few dozen girls a year at its high around 1967, and faded by the century's end. It travels beside Kelly, Colleen and Kellie.

Did you know? Kellene sits right between Kelly and Colleen — two Irish-American favorites — borrowing the sound of both into one fresh name.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Kellene — Kelly + -ene; Colleen 'girl' echo

Variations

KelleenKellynKellene

Nicknames

KellyKel

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kellene…

Colleen— the Irish 'girl' name Kellene echoes

Kelly— the root name it builds on

Kellie— a same-family Kell- girls' name

Charlene— a like -ene mid-century name

Explore names like Kellene

By themevintage irish blend

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kellene mean?

It's a blend of Kelly and the suffix -ene, with an echo of Colleen, from the Irish for 'girl'.

How do you pronounce Kellene?

It's said kuh-LEEN /kəˈliːn/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Kellene a boy or girl name?

Kellene is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Kellene?

Kellene has always been an uncommon name in the U.S.