Kelly vs Kent

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Kelly

Girl #867 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"frequenter of churches"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American Australian English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#867
Total SSA Count
310
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Kel

Playground Safety Score

23 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Kelly' rhymes with 'smelly'"}

Full profile for Kelly →

Kent

Boy #1,636 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"coastal land, border land"

Origin: Celtic

Cultural Roots

English American British

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,636
Total SSA Count
104
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Kent →

Popularity Comparison

Kelly Rank #867
Kent Rank #1,636

Kelly is more popular, ranked #867 vs #1636 for Kent.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Kelly ___

  • Kelly Anne
  • Kelly Marie
  • Kelly Lynn
  • Kelly Jo
  • Kelly Jean
  • Kelly Renee

Kent ___

  • Kent James
  • Kent William
  • Kent Thomas
  • Kent Andrew
  • Kent Robert
  • Kent Allen

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Kelly

Casey Shannon Ryan Brendan Erin

If you choose Kent

Clark Blake Lane Dean Grant

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kelly or Kent more popular?

Kelly is more popular, ranked #867 compared to Kent at #1636 in the United States.

What do Kelly and Kent mean?

Kelly means "frequenter of churches" (Irish Gaelic origin). Kent means "coastal land, border land" (Celtic origin).

Are Kelly and Kent boy or girl names?

Kelly is primarily a girl name. Kent is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Kent vs Kelly Kelly vs Samira Kelly vs Darcy Kelly vs Mattie Kelly vs Ashlyn
← Full profile: Kelly ← Full profile: Kent Browse all baby names