I know a 25ish year old man name named Kelly. It's definitely not unheard of but I do associate it a bit more with a girls name. No big deal in my opinion but different people feel differently about that sort of thing.

Just had a name discussion with a female Kelly. She said she didn't like her name as a kid because it rhymed with belly and smelly. FWIW.

Use it as a middle name and call him Kelly. This will make it bet easy for him to opt out of the name when he’s older.

William Kelly Smith
Thomas Kelly Smith
Patrick Kelly Smith
Michael Kelly Smith
Seamus Kelly Smith
Garrett Kelly Smith
Logan Kelly Smith
Etc.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, what?! Ronald's a girl's name?

No. Why are you asking that?

Anonymous wrote:Wait, what?! Ronald's a girl's name?

Dp. No it isn't

PP and have to add that in 2000, my sister was hesitant to name her baby boy John after our dad because she was concerned that it was too common/popular. John was always the only one - ended up being distinctive whereas our dad born in 1940 was one of dozens!

I’m conflicted; I’m 55, GenX and Kelly, Kelli or Kellianne were very popular girl names among my age group. It had “gone female” I’d guess late 60s, although I knew much older boy named Kelly.

But, as someone with Irish heritage, I think it’s a handsome rugged name possibly because of the character (again, look at my age) male Dr. Kelly Brackett from the 1970s tv show, Emergency! played by dashingly good-looking actor, Robert Fuller. On the show, he’s called Kel. His character name suits him so well.

Enough time has passed that the few Kellys are full grown adult women - you likely wouldn’t have a kindergarten class (or elementary school) with any Kellys, period. This generation won’t think Kelly=girl name.

Kellen and Keller are ugly. Sound like companies instead of people. I think Kelly is dated as a female name, but not as a male name. Ronald is ugly and nothing at all like a hot guy named Kelly that I imagine. And Ashley is very dated as a female name, but pretty ugly for a male IMO.

I'd love to meet a baby Kelly.

Anonymous wrote:How about a name that honors Kelly but is more masculine - Kellen. A friend of mine has sons named Kellen and Patrick, plus a daughter Maeve.

You could always have Kelly be a nickname but at least in writing the name is more obviously masculine.

I like Kellen as a solution, or Kelly as the middle name.

I want to love this for boys, but somehow I don't.

I know many female Kelly's, but none under about age 40.

I know a handful of male Kelly's of varying ages, ranging in age from around 10 to one in his 50s.

It's a handsome boys name, I would not hesitate to use it, name variation and fluidity is becoming way more common, we are long past the era of nothing but Johns and Mary, and outside extremes, kids are not going to be made fun of simply bc of their name, if they want to make fun of your kid they will find any excuse. And the reality is now there are so many different names out there, McKlynnleigh, Birch, Fargo, and Khrystofyr, would be standing on some thin ice trying to make fun of a name. I don't see this as a thing, maybe they will misgender him sometimes, but reality is this is going to be many many peoples reality now. I've known a Robin, Ashley, Dana's and Leslie's, all male. And all have successfully made it to adulthood unscathed.
If you love it, go for it, Irish names are great, don't let DCUM scare you!

Anonymous wrote:My husband has a name that makes people assume he is female. He does not like it. Don’t this to your child.

Same for my husband, but he doesn’t care.

I know a male Kelly married to a female Kelly - we have to use their middle initials because she took his last name, lol.

If you use Kelly, I'd give them a middle name they could go by later in life if they want an alternative.

Wait, what?! Ronald's a girl's name?

I'm 49 and while I have known a couple of male Kellys, it's been 99% a girls name my whole life. It'd be like naming your son Ronald, but worse ... Outdated AND a girl's name.