Gene Kelly's 3 syllables (1 + 2) hit the Hollywood sweet spot.
Gene's 1 beat vs. Kelly's 2 create a natural cinematic snap.
Gene Kelly's softer consonants cost it screen presence.
Gene Kelly misses the alliteration hook that makes names stick.
Gene (4 letters) and Kelly (5) are balanced in length — clean on any poster or marquee.
Gene Kelly has mostly familiar phonemes with a few tricky patterns.
Gene Kelly has decent vowel richness, but stronger A and O sounds would lift it.