Kelly originates in Irish language and means "intelligent and bright". It was derived from an old Irish surname and as a surname it functions until today, the famous bearer being Grace Kelly, an American actress and Princess of Monaco. It can also be used as both feminine and masculine given names, nowadays it is more popular for girls. In fact, Kelly has always been one of the most popular feminine given names in the United States. It is also the name of several places in the United States.