# Kelly

/ˈkɛɫi/ (US) · /kˈɛli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kelly
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name or family name.

For teachers: a common unisex given name or surname of Irish origin.

- Kelly is joining us for dinner tonight at the new Italian restaurant.
- The author, Grace Kelly, spent years researching the historical archives to ensure the accuracy of her latest biography.

### 2. a shade of green

noun · CEFR B2

a bright, strong green colour.

For teachers: a bright, intense shade of green, often referred to as 'kelly green'.

- She wore a kelly green dress that stood out in the crowd.
- The designer selected a vibrant kelly green for the brand's logo to convey a sense of energy and growth.

### 3. drilling equipment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a special pipe used on a drilling rig to help turn the equipment.

For teachers: a square or hexagonal section of pipe that transmits rotary motion from the rotary table to the drill string.

- The workers checked the kelly to make sure the drill was turning correctly.
- The drilling engineer noted that the kelly was showing signs of wear and would need to be inspected before the next phase of the project.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the' in a mechanical context.

## Examples

- Kelly is my best friend from school.
- After the meeting, Kelly stayed behind to help the manager organize the remaining files.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.