Kelsey

#814 for girls in 2025, 335 births · #6,143 for boys in 2025, 14 births
Given to girls 96.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1992 · 11,713 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
15 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
150,416
since 1942

Kelsey over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201985peak #23, 1992girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#814335#6,14314
2024#673430#9,8947
2023#663444#7,28911
2022#632466#4,44223
2021#623477#7,08911
2020#525574#5,69915
2019#470664#5,55516
2018#420740#5,32017
2017#396788#4,93519
2016#383859#7,60510
2015#343955#5,05818
2014#3281,017#4,70220
2013#3041,049#6,60312
2012#2671,214#3,80727
2011#2541,266#3,99425
2010#2331,349#4,84819
2009#2121,521#4,16024
2008#1951,716#3,34433
2007#2011,699#3,02538
2006#1851,898#2,54247
2005#1731,960#2,80338
2004#1482,198#1,74872
2003#1302,569#2,47042
2002#1182,883#2,09251
2001#1003,267#1,65970
2000#883,669#1,76862
1999#724,400#1,32091
1998#565,551#1,23199
1997#575,573#1,19899
1996#367,655#930140
1995#338,184#862157
1994#299,749#827166
1993#2411,380#829161
1992#2311,713#802169
1991#2611,435#747186
1990#329,494#726197
1989#319,256#631250
1988#645,452#649213
1987#674,574#720161
1986#1122,517#769140
1985#1681,699#805121
1984#1771,555#784122
1983#2241,116#813115
1982#310791#865106
1981#434490#890100
1980#601308#92094
1979#737222#92690
1978#887164#94584
1977#959144#92884
1976#1,055116#832101
1975#1,111105#84197
1974#1,23988#95373
1973#1,31277#94173
1972#1,32576#94373
1971#1,45671#96571
1970#1,82848#94072
1969#1,83545#1,28038
1968#2,53824#1,21739
1967#2,07932#1,57324
1966#3,04017#1,61323
1965#3,14916#1,91817
1964#2,82520#1,65523
1963#2,61922#1,90218
1962#2,81419#1,75721
1961#2,95718#2,14815
1960#3,51213#1,77221
1959#3,10415#1,58825
1958#2,37623#2,26513
1957#3,48912#1,83719
1956#3,49312#1,67622
1955#2,83916#2,21913
1954#3,01914#1,76219
1953#2,51618#2,09914
1952#3,55210#2,15313
1951#3,7149#1,83817
1950#3,42310#2,5809
1949#4,6736#1,50124
1948#3,5939#1,70319
1947#4,0078#2,8628
1946#3,9947#1,81316
1945#4,0256#2,00912
1944—#2,08012
1943—#2,18212
1942#4,6225#1,94614
1941—#2,20711
1940—#2,6718
1939—#2,28810
1938—#2,08412
1937—#1,82815
1936—#2,6298
1935—#2,7198
1934—#3,6795
1933—#2,36810
1932—#2,31311
1931—#2,20712
1930—#1,88916
1929—#2,45211
1928—#2,38712
1927—#2,70310
1926—#2,07415
1925—#1,87018
1924—#2,22914
1923—#2,02016
1922—#2,80110
1921—#2,15215
1920—#3,4897
1919—#2,26513
1918—#2,07315
1917—#2,42311
1916—#2,15213
1915—#2,6219
1914—#2,10110
1913—#1,67611
1912—#1,61910
1911——
1910—#1,5895
1909——
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1907——
1906——
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1891—#9635
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First appearance
1942

The first year at least five girls were named Kelsey! It came in at #4,622, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1942–1944, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Kelsey is popular in 1985

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #48 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 190 girlsAKMaine: #166 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 795 girlsMEVermont: #96 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 388 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #166 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 846 girlsNHWashington: #43 for girls · 136 births · 1 in 203 girlsWAIdaho: #80 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 334 girlsIDMontana: #49 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 199 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #52 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 192 girlsNDMinnesota: #45 for girls · 145 births · 1 in 197 girlsMNIllinois: #149 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 849 girlsILWisconsin: #142 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 806 girlsWIMichigan: #185 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 1,080 girlsMINew York: #519 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 3,818 girlsNYMassachusetts: #218 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,346 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Kelsey, so not publishedRIOregon: #49 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 223 girlsORNevada: #134 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 600 girlsNVWyoming: #35 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 138 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #78 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 318 girlsSDIowa: #60 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 270 girlsIAIndiana: #160 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 946 girlsINOhio: #180 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 1,080 girlsOHPennsylvania: #260 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 1,773 girlsPANew Jersey: #394 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,887 girlsNJConnecticut: #197 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,136 girlsCTCalifornia: #238 for girls · 157 births · 1 in 1,288 girlsCAUtah: #94 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 463 girlsUTColorado: #61 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 297 girlsCONebraska: #55 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 238 girlsNEMissouri: #174 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,038 girlsMOKentucky: #404 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,542 girlsKYWest Virginia: #192 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,092 girlsWVVirginia: #254 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,569 girlsVAMaryland: #322 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,192 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Kelsey, so not publishedDEArizona: #202 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,045 girlsAZNew Mexico: #194 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 873 girlsNMKansas: #60 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 287 girlsKSArkansas: #215 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,270 girlsARTennessee: #346 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,525 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #320 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,222 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Kelsey, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #194 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 813 girlsDCOklahoma: #97 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 468 girlsOKLouisiana: #291 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,769 girlsLAMississippi: #406 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,456 girlsMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Kelsey, so not publishedALGeorgia: #533 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,122 girlsGAHawaii: #159 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 613 girlsHITexas: #218 for girls · 106 births · 1 in 1,258 girlsTXFlorida: #379 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,610 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Wyoming#35 · 1 in 138
  2. Washington#43 · 1 in 203
  3. Minnesota#45 · 1 in 197
  4. Alaska#48 · 1 in 190
  5. Montana#49 · 1 in 199

Best ever in a state: #6 in Montana, 1992.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#35201 in 138
Washington#431361 in 203
Minnesota#451451 in 197
Alaska#48211 in 190
Montana#49221 in 199
Oregon#49701 in 223
North Dakota#52241 in 192
Nebraska#55421 in 238
Iowa#60641 in 270
Kansas#60511 in 287
Colorado#61741 in 297
South Dakota#78131 in 318
Idaho#80181 in 334
Utah#94311 in 463
Vermont#9671 in 388
Oklahoma#97431 in 468
Nevada#13481 in 600
Wisconsin#142381 in 806
Illinois#149861 in 849
Hawaii#15981 in 613
Indiana#160361 in 946
Maine#16681 in 795
New Hampshire#16671 in 846
Missouri#174311 in 1,038
Ohio#180641 in 1,080
Michigan#185531 in 1,080
West Virginia#19291 in 1,092
District of Columbia#19471 in 813
New Mexico#194111 in 873
Connecticut#197151 in 1,136
Arizona#202221 in 1,045
Arkansas#215101 in 1,270
Massachusetts#218261 in 1,346
Texas#2181061 in 1,258
California#2381571 in 1,288
Virginia#254211 in 1,569
Pennsylvania#260391 in 1,773
Louisiana#291171 in 1,769
North Carolina#320161 in 2,222
Maryland#322111 in 2,192
Tennessee#346111 in 2,525
Florida#379251 in 2,610
New Jersey#394141 in 2,887
Kentucky#40461 in 3,542
Mississippi#40661 in 2,456
New York#519281 in 3,818
Georgia#53391 in 4,122
Alabama———
Delaware———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Kelsey
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 141 spots since 2024 (#673 → #814)
  • 289 spots since 2020 (#525 → #814)
  • 471 spots since 2015 (#343 → #814)
  • Biggest jump: 167 spots in 1981 (#601 → #434)
  • Biggest drop: 141 spots in 2025 (#673 → #814)
Rise & fade · girls
50 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1942
  • Peaked 1992 at #23 (11,713 births)
  • Births halved by 1997, 5 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 15 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 15 yrs · run 1987–2001
  • Top 1,000: 49 yrs · run 1977–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 157
  • Highest: 1 in 157 girls born in 1992 were named Kelsey (0.64%)
  • Latest: 1 in 4,798 girls born in 2025 (0.02%)
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 56.6% of all girls named Kelsey (85,134) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1940s41#3,593 (1948)#4,152
1950s139#2,376 (1958)#3,153
1960s226#1,835 (1969)#2,737
1970s1,111#737 (1979)#1,191
1980s27,758#31 (1989)#219
1990s85,134#23 (1992)#39
2000s23,380#88 (2000)#155
2010s9,901#233 (2010)#340
2020s2,726#525 (2020)#655

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Kelsey in 1985

girls
#168
1,699 births · 1 in 1,013 girls
boys
#805
121 births · 1 in 15,274 boys

Top girls' names in 1985

  1. #1Jessica48,345
  2. #2Ashley47,010
  3. #3Jennifer42,661
  4. #4Amanda39,055
  5. #5Sarah24,879
  6. #6Stephanie23,243
  7. #7Nicole22,966
  8. #8Heather21,151
  9. #9Elizabeth20,545
  10. #10Megan20,013
  11. #168Kelsey1,699

Top boys' names in 1985

  1. #1Michael64,934
  2. #2Christopher59,609
  3. #3Matthew47,075
  4. #4Joshua42,194
  5. #5Daniel38,559
  6. #6David38,522
  7. #7James35,862
  8. #8Robert32,094
  9. #9John31,502
  10. #10Joseph30,222
  11. #805Kelsey121
More about 1985

girls

1,720,828 girls got a published name in 1985; 1 in 1,013 of them was named Kelsey, which outranked 98.7% of the 12,505 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kelsey
  1. #165Dawn1,730
  2. #166Kari1,721
  3. #167Priscilla1,701
  4. #168Kelsey1,699
  5. #169Barbara1,677
  6. #170Cassie1,660
  7. #171Cristina1,650
Biggest movers since 1984
Risers
  1. ↑ 7,360Kayleigh#8,153 → #793
  2. ↑ 1,675Madison#2,299 → #624
  3. ↑ 1,167Cierra#1,633 → #466
  4. ↑ 1,002Ciera#1,703 → #701
  5. ↑ 787Krystina#1,332 → #545
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,164Grisel#784 → #1,948
  2. ↓ 893Ciji#963 → #1,856
  3. ↓ 419Falon#914 → #1,333
  4. ↓ 364Alesia#969 → #1,333
  5. ↓ 362Echo#845 → #1,207

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,848,210 boys got a published name in 1985; 1 in 15,274 of them was named Kelsey, which outranked 89.4% of the 7,586 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kelsey
  1. #798Ulysses124
  2. #803Lazaro123
  3. #804Davin122
  4. #805Kelsey121
  5. #805Andrea121
  6. #805Bart121
  7. #805Broderick121
  8. #810Chandler120
  9. #810Cruz120
  10. #810German120

Tied with 4 names at #805; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1984
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,425Jaymes#3,270 → #845
  2. ↑ 977Trace#1,933 → #956
  3. ↑ 933Durrell#1,656 → #723
  4. ↑ 793Durell#1,399 → #606
  5. ↑ 562Brandyn#1,444 → #882
Fallers
  1. ↓ 420Anwar#951 → #1,371
  2. ↓ 345Zebulon#976 → #1,321
  3. ↓ 303Tavares#925 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 250Alonso#931 → #1,181
  5. ↓ 228Abdul#1,000 → #1,228

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1985 →