Kayleigh Name Meaning

Kayleigh is a unisex name of Scottish and Irish origin. The name is a combination of two names, “Kay” and “Leigh.” “Kay” is a variant of the name “Keith,” which means “wood” or “forest.” “Leigh” is a variation of “Lee,” which means “meadow” or “clearing.” So when you put it all together, Kayleigh means “woodland meadow” or “forest clearing.” How lovely is that?

Origins of the Name Kayleigh

The name Kayleigh first appeared in the late 19th century, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that it gained popularity as a girl’s name. Some credit the rise in popularity to the British pop band Marillion’s hit song “Kayleigh” which was released in 1985, and reached number two in the UK singles chart. The song’s protagonist is a girl named Kayleigh, and the lyrics describe a bittersweet romance. The song not only helped to popularize the name Kayleigh, but it also helped to popularize the band itself.

Popularity of the Name Kayleigh

Kayleigh has remained a popular girl’s name in the United Kingdom and United States. In the UK, the name was most popular in the 1980s, reaching its peak in popularity in 1985. In the United States, the name has remained a consistent favorite, appearing in the top 1000 names every year since the 1980s. In recent years, the name has become less popular, but it still remains a unique and lovely choice for parents.

Final Thoughts on the Name Kayleigh

Kayleigh is a unique and lovely name that has a special meaning and a rich history. It’s a name that has stood the test of time and has remained a favorite for many years. It’s a name that is easy to pronounce and spell, making it a great choice for parents looking for a name that is both unique and classic. Plus, with its Scottish and Irish roots, it has a lovely, natural and outdoorsy feel, which makes it perfect for nature-loving parents.

In conclusion, Kayleigh is a beautiful and unique name with a lovely meaning, rich history and a nice natural feel. It’s a name that has stood the test of time and has remained a favorite for many years. So, if you’re looking for a name that is both unique and classic, Kayleigh might just be the perfect choice for your little girl.

Infographic of Kayleigh name meaning, which is A combination of the name Kay and the suffix -leigh, Kayleigh means pure.
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Kayleigh Name Popularity

How popular is the name Kayleigh? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 831 140 0.0092%
1986 318 723 0.0479%
1987 414 499 0.0327%
1988 418 507 0.0325%
1989 398 582 0.0361%
1990 420 567 0.0342%
1991 387 624 0.0383%
1992 406 594 0.0372%
1993 410 571 0.0366%
1994 436 538 0.0351%
1995 436 549 0.0364%
1996 406 606 0.0405%
1997 383 658 0.0445%
1998 362 762 0.0509%
1999 360 789 0.0527%
2000 345 860 0.0563%
2001 321 945 0.0627%
2002 323 922 0.0615%
2003 291 1,041 0.0684%
2004 283 1,144 0.0751%
2005 262 1,219 0.0797%
2006 265 1,214 0.0775%
2007 247 1,381 0.0875%
2008 239 1,413 0.0914%
2009 228 1,422 0.0951%
2010 248 1,267 0.0879%
2011 244 1,257 0.0882%
2012 260 1,194 0.0838%
2013 271 1,117 0.0785%
2014 271 1,152 0.0791%
2015 317 975 0.067%
2016 334 934 0.0648%
2017 387 746 0.0534%
2018 436 657 0.0478%
2019 467 594 0.0439%
2020 438 654 0.0514%
2021 424 654 0.0535%
2022 531 547 0.0415%

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Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

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Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

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New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

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Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Kayleigh

If you like Kayleigh, you’ll love these other names like Kayleigh.

What names sound like Kayleigh?

If you like how Kayleigh sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Kayleigh.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Cayleigh

Slim and fair; slender

Irish

Kaeleigh

Slender

Gaelic

Kaileigh

Slim and fair; slender

Irish

Kaleigh

Beautiful, lovely; slim and fair; slender

Irish

Kaylleigh

Slender

Gaelic

Kyleigh

What names are similar to Kayleigh?

Find a name that’s like Kayleigh, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Bayleigh

Berry clearing; bailiff; city fortification

English

Hayleigh

Hay meadow

English

Karleigh

Free man

Latin

Lists With Kayleigh

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Kayleigh.

15 Comments

  1. i forgot to say i also hate it when people spell my name wrong

    Reply

  2. My name is Kayleigh and that was because the song by Marillion came on in the hospital when I was born in 1988 ?

    Reply

    • my name is kayleigh i was supposed to be called annie but when my mum heard that song she was like im naming her kayleigh and i was born 2009. my friends call me kayles.

      Reply

  3. Hello ??

    Reply

  4. My still born daughter whom passed on 29 Oct 2022 was named Kayleigh.
    Hadn’t even searched the meaning before hand but how perfect.
    Pure and, Who is like God.
    Such a beautiful name ?

    Reply

    • Big hugs xx

      Reply

  5. Hi Kayleigh. My name is also Kayleigh and I was born in 2008, How did you get used to people pronouncing your name wrong? Everyone I know has mispronounced my name wrong and its rather annoying. If you could give me some tips that would be fantastic! I absolutely love my name im just not sure if I love the spelling. Thats why most of my friends and family call me Kay.

    Reply

  6. everybody thinks my name is kylie :,)

    Reply

  7. Kayleigh means beloved

    Reply

  8. Kayleigh here, born in 87′. I was named after the song Kayleigh by the band Marillion. All my life when people have read by name, they pronounce it as Kayla or Ka-Lee-ah. It’s quite annoying as I think it’s pretty obvious how to pronounce it but I’ve gotten used to it.

    Reply

    • I was named after the same song and everyone always tried to pronounce my name Kylie or Callie. So annoying, since Kay and Leigh are both easily recognized names that people know how to pronounce

      Reply

  9. This is our 3rd baby, other 2 are Cole and Camryn. Mommy’s name is Chrysti, Daddy’s name is Kevin. Wanted to keep the phonics same sound but give daddy a K name. Love the spelling we chose too.

    Reply

    • How cute! My name is Kayleigh and my dads name was Kevin.

      Reply

  10. I love my name obviously? my mom and dad spelt it a different way and was told the meaning is different too, my mom is Irish and dad was Spanish so it’s spelt KAELIE and in Ireland it’s actually a dance/shindig/party but it’s meaning is meant to be “slim/slender/beautiful” and in Spanish I was told it means “pure and innocent” and the keeper of secrets and keys. It’s also suppose to be a unisex name I’ve yet to meet a male with the name but I would love to I think it’s lovely name for a male and female.

    Reply

  11. I’ve always loved the name. My husband and I loved the spelling and it went well with our sons name Kaeden!

    Reply

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