Kellee is a unique and distinctive female given name of American origin. It is believed to have been created in the late 20th century as a variant spelling of the name Kelly, which is of Irish origin and means "bright-headed" or "war". The name Kellee is often associated with the actress Kellee Hawthorne, who was active in Hollywood during the 1930s.
The meaning of the name Kellee is not well-documented, as it is considered a modern creation. However, some sources suggest that it may be associated with the Irish surname Kelly, which means "bright-headed" or "war". It is also possible that the name was chosen for its sound rather than its meaning.
Kellee has never been particularly popular as a given name. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, the highest rank it ever achieved was in 1978, when it was the 946th most popular name for girls that year. Since then, its popularity has declined significantly, and it is now considered quite rare.
Despite its rarity, Kellee remains a unique and distinctive name choice. Its association with the actress Kellee Hawthorne may give it additional appeal for those interested in classic Hollywood cinema. Ultimately, whether one chooses to use this name or not will depend on personal preference and how well it suits their own tastes and sensibilities.
The name Kellee has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, as reflected by the birth statistics provided.
From 1951 to 1968, there was a steady increase in the number of births with the name Kellee, peaking at 112 births in 1968. This suggests that during this period, the name gained significant traction among parents choosing names for their newborn daughters.
However, from 1969 onwards, we observe a gradual decline in the popularity of the name Kellee. The highest number of births with this name after 1968 was 201 in 1978, indicating that while it remained somewhat popular, its peak had passed.
After 1979, the number of births with the name Kellee consistently decreased year by year until reaching a low of 5 births in recent years (2015, 2017, and 2021). This trend suggests that the name has become quite rare in contemporary times.
In total, over the course of these years from 1951 to 2021, there have been 3714 births with the name Kellee in the United States. This figure represents a notable presence of this name throughout history but also underscores its decline in recent decades.