Kiely

♀ Girl

Pronounced KY-lee /ˈkaɪ.li/Low

Meaning: Kiely is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cadhla, 'descendant of Cadhla' — a byname usually explained as 'graceful; beautiful; comely'. It is used in modern American naming as a given name for girls; some families say it KEE-lee.Low

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname turned given name: Kiely comes from O Cadhla, often read 'graceful; beautiful' (said 'KY-lee').

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Origin MediumIrish

MeaningKiely is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cadhla, 'descendant of Cadhla' — a byname usually explained as 'graceful; beautiful; comely'. It is used in modern American naming as a given name for girls; some families say it KEE-lee.

U.S. rank (2024)#14366 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 843

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

Kiely comes from the Irish surname O Cadhla, 'descendant of Cadhla', a personal byname usually glossed 'graceful; beautiful; comely'. The family name is associated with Munster. Like many Irish surnames, it crossed into American given-name use, and it now reads as a modern, brisk choice for girls. Both KY-lee and KEE-lee are heard, which we note (said 'KY-lee').

It appears only rarely for girls in the U.S. Rare, Irish-rooted, and crisp.

Did you know? Kiely is the Anglicized form of the Irish surname O Cadhla — from a byname meaning 'graceful' or 'beautiful'. It has become a modern American girls' name, though pronunciations differ (said 'KY-lee', sometimes 'KEE-lee').

Overall data confidence 46%

References — Kiely — Irish surname O Cadhla, 'graceful'; two pronunciations in use

Variations

KeelyKeeleyKealy

Nicknames

KyKeeLee

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kiely…

Keely— a like Irish-rooted name in sound

Keeley— a like Anglicized Irish spelling

Kylie— a like brisk two-beat pick

Keily— another Irish name

Tully— another surname-name pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kiely mean?

Kiely comes from the Irish surname O Cadhla, from a byname usually read 'graceful; beautiful; comely'.

How do you pronounce Kiely?

It's said KY-lee /ˈkaɪ.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first. Some families say KEE-lee.

Is Kiely a boy or girl name?

Kiely is used mostly as a girl's name in the U.S., though as a surname it belongs to whole families.

How popular is Kiely?

Kiely is a rare name for girls in the U.S.