War, strife, or bright-headed
Keli is primarily a Hawaiian name meaning 'war' or 'strife'. It is also frequently used as a modern phonetic spelling variant of the Irish name Kelly, which originates from the surname Ó Ceallaigh, meaning 'bright-headed' or 'frequenting churches'.
About 8 girls were named Keli in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
NFL tight end and Colorado Rockies president
Journalist, playwright, and screenwriter
American actor and producer
