Kelsey
A unisex given name transferred from the surname.
Every Kelsey since 1891 — 155,738 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kelsey
Kelsey is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #814 in 2025 with 335 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1891, 155,738 American babies have been named Kelsey. Its peak came in 1992, when 11,882 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Kelsey stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kelsey year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 335 | #814 | 14 | #6,286 |
| 2024 | 430 | #673 | 7 | #10,422 |
| 2023 | 444 | #664 | 11 | #7,528 |
| 2022 | 466 | #633 | 23 | #4,508 |
| 2021 | 477 | #624 | 11 | #7,376 |
| 2020 | 574 | #526 | 15 | #5,847 |
| 2019 | 664 | #471 | 16 | #5,694 |
| 2018 | 740 | #421 | 17 | #5,431 |
| 2017 | 788 | #397 | 19 | #5,028 |
| 2016 | 859 | #383 | 10 | #7,894 |
| 2015 | 955 | #344 | 18 | #5,179 |
| 2014 | 1,017 | #328 | 20 | #4,779 |
| 2013 | 1,049 | #304 | 12 | #6,831 |
| 2012 | 1,214 | #267 | 27 | #3,842 |
| 2011 | 1,266 | #254 | 25 | #4,049 |
| 2010 | 1,349 | #233 | 19 | #4,945 |
| 2009 | 1,521 | #212 | 24 | #4,219 |
| 2008 | 1,716 | #195 | 33 | #3,391 |
| 2007 | 1,699 | #202 | 38 | #3,057 |
| 2006 | 1,898 | #185 | 47 | #2,561 |
| 2005 | 1,960 | #173 | 38 | #2,822 |
| 2004 | 2,198 | #148 | 72 | #1,756 |
| 2003 | 2,569 | #130 | 42 | #2,491 |
| 2002 | 2,883 | #118 | 51 | #2,109 |
| 2001 | 3,267 | #100 | 70 | #1,670 |
| 2000 | 3,669 | #88 | 62 | #1,773 |
| 1995 | 8,184 | #33 | 157 | #868 |
| 1990 | 9,494 | #32 | 197 | #727 |
| 1985 | 1,699 | #168 | 121 | #809 |
| 1980 | 308 | #603 | 94 | #921 |
| 1975 | 105 | #1,113 | 97 | #849 |
| 1970 | 48 | #1,843 | 72 | #945 |
| 1965 | 16 | #3,198 | 17 | #1,962 |
| 1960 | 13 | #3,582 | 21 | #1,794 |
| 1955 | 16 | #2,895 | 13 | #2,265 |
| 1950 | 10 | #3,555 | 9 | #2,674 |
| 1945 | 6 | #4,288 | 12 | #2,067 |
| 1940 | — | — | 8 | #2,765 |
| 1935 | — | — | 8 | #2,828 |
| 1930 | — | — | 16 | #1,931 |
| 1925 | — | — | 18 | #1,906 |
| 1920 | — | — | 7 | #3,658 |
| 1915 | — | — | 9 | #2,729 |
| 1910 | — | — | 5 | #1,728 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kelsey
- Kelsey Grammer Actor · b. 1955
- Kelsey Chow Actor · b. 1991
- Kelsey Serwa Athlete · b. 1989
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kelsey mean?
A unisex given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Kelsey in 2025?
Kelsey ranked #814 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 335 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kelsey?
155,738 babies have been named Kelsey in the United States since 1891, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kelsey most popular?
Kelsey peaked in 1992, when 11,882 newborns received the name.
Is Kelsey a boy or girl name?
Kelsey is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Kelsey rising or falling?
Kelsey is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kelsey?
Well-known people named Kelsey include Kelsey Grammer (actor), Kelsey Chow (actor), Kelsey Serwa (athlete).