ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kelly

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈkɛɫi// UK //kˈɛli// kel·ly

n. a common first name for a person. It is used for both men and women, though it is more common for women in many countries.

n. a given name of Irish origin, used for both males and females. Derived from the Gaelic surname 'Ó Ceallaigh', it is frequently encountered in English-speaking populations.


SIMPLE

Kelly is my best friend from school.

CONTEXTUAL

After the meeting, Kelly stayed behind to help the manager organize the remaining files.

COMPLEX

While historically more prevalent as a masculine name in certain regions, Kelly saw a significant rise in popularity as a feminine given name during the mid-twentieth century.

Origin

Borrowed from Irish Ó Ceallaigh. Doublet of Kellogg and Callahan.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized.

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