Kaylei
A girl's name with 2,118 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Kaylei is a two-syllable girl's name with a open, approachable sound — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. With 2,118 recorded U.S. births since 1986, it sits in a sweet spot: recognizable enough to be a real name, uncommon enough to turn heads.
In the most recent SSA release, Kaylei ranks #5506 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Kaylei is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, a variant spelling of Kaylee or Kaleigh — from the Irish meaning 'slender, fair' or from the Gaelic ceilidh (a traditional dance gathering). The -ei ending gives it a distinctive, contemporary look.
EtymologyShow more
Kaylei's linguistic roots are not definitively traced to a single tradition. Names that emerged in late-twentieth-century America were often created by blending sounds, respelling existing names, or combining elements from multiple languages — a form of linguistic creativity that makes pinning down a single origin difficult.
What the data does show: Kaylei has 2,118 recorded U.S. births as a girl's name, with its open, approachable ending ending on a vowel softens the overall impression.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Kaylei was #1933 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #5506, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 148 | #4752 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 689 | #2716 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,015 | #1932 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 226 | #5492 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 40 | #7572 | — |
The Story of Kaylei
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2007, Kaylei is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Kaylei are most likely born between 1997 and 2017.
How rare is Kaylei?
Only about 1 in every 156,522 babies born in 2024 was named Kaylei — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1986, peaked in the 2000s with 1,015 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Kaylei by the numbers
- Would fill 44 school buses
- Meeting one Kaylei per day would take 5.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(39 years, 1986–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | #5506 |
| 2023 | 30 | #4606 |
| 2022 | 22 | #5728 |
| 2021 | 36 | #4051 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3870 |
| 2019 | 50 | #3195 |
| 2018 | 48 | #3316 |
| 2017 | 57 | #2914 |
| 2016 | 46 | #3440 |
| 2015 | 62 | #2824 |
| 2014 | 68 | #2600 |
| 2013 | 60 | #2857 |
| 2012 | 95 | #2036 |
| 2011 | 113 | #1799 |
| 2010 | 90 | #2177 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1925 |
| 2008 | 112 | #1895 |
| 2007 | 128 | #1709 |
| 2006 | 126 | #1673 |
| 2005 | 117 | #1697 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kaylei a boy's or girl's name?
When was Kaylei most popular?
How popular is the name Kaylei?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1986–2024