"gentle, beautiful, precious"
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Language: English
Kailee
Does Kailee flow with your last name?
A breezy modern classic with Irish dance roots
American
Irish
English
Modern
Playful
Gentle
Trendy
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"slender and fair"
Origin: Irish
Language: English
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The Story of Kailee
Kailee is a modern American spelling variant of Kaylee, which draws from multiple origins. One traces it to the Irish Gaelic name Caoimhe (pronounced 'kwee-vah'), meaning 'gentle, beautiful, precious.' Another connects it to the Irish 'céilí,' meaning a traditional Gaelic social gathering with music and dance. A third combines the Greek 'Kay' (pure) with the Old English 'Lee' (meadow). The spelling 'Kailee' emerged in the 1990s as parents sought distinctive variants of an already popular sound.
Kailee and its many variants (Kaylee, Kayley, Kayleigh, Kailey, Cailey) surged in American popularity from the late 1980s through the 2000s. The specific spelling 'Kailee' is one attempt to personalize the name while maintaining the same cheerful pronunciation.
Kailee reflects a distinctly American naming phenomenon — the explosion of '-lee' and '-leigh' endings for girls in the late 20th century. This trend produced dozens of spelling variants of essentially the same sound, representing parents' desire for both accessibility and uniqueness for their daughters.
Historical Record
Kailee first appeared in US Social Security records in 1976.
Over 12,823 babies have been named Kailee in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Kailee is past its peak , currently ranked #1,935 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Kailee is one of at least 12 common spellings of the 'Kaylee' sound, including Kaylee, Kailey, Kayleigh, Caylee, and Cayleigh
- The Irish céilí (a festive gathering with traditional music and dance) may be the name's deepest root
- Caoimhe, the Irish source name, is pronounced completely differently: 'kwee-vah'
Kailee in Other Languages
Irish
Caoimhe
English
Kaylee
Spanish
Kailee
Popularity Over Time
#1,935
Current Rank
Peaked 1999
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Kailee
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Kailee O'Sullivan
Athlete
American soccer player who has competed at collegiate and professional levels
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Kaylee (Firefly) Fictional
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Beloved character Kaylee Frye from Joss Whedon's cult sci-fi series Firefly — the ship's cheerful, brilliant mechanic
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Compare Kailee with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,935
- Total SSA Count
- 103
- Cultural Origins
- American Irish English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Kai
Kail
Lee
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, quick 1-1 syllable combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 1-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Kailee
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Kailee is also used as a boy name, ranked #36065.
View Kailee as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kailee
What does the name Kailee mean?
"gentle, beautiful, precious" (from Irish Gaelic). "slender and fair" (from Irish). Kailee is a modern American spelling variant of Kaylee, which draws from multiple origins. One traces it to the Irish Gaelic name Caoimhe (pronounced 'kwee-vah'), meaning 'gentle, beautiful, precious.' Another connects it to the Irish 'céilí,' meaning a traditional Gaelic social gathering with music and dance. A third combines the Greek 'Kay' (pure) with the Old English 'Lee' (meadow). The spelling 'Kailee' emerged in the 1990s as parents sought distinctive variants of an already popular sound.
What is the origin of the name Kailee?
Kailee has Irish Gaelic, Irish, American, and English origins. In Irish Gaelic, it means "gentle, beautiful, precious". In Irish, it means "slender and fair".
Is Kailee a boy or girl name?
Kailee is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1935. As a boy name, it is ranked #36065. Kailee is more commonly used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Kailee?
Kailee is currently ranked #1935 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Kailee?
Common nicknames for Kailee include Kai, Kail, and Lee.
What are good middle names for Kailee?
Popular middle name pairings include Kailee Marie, Kailee Grace, Kailee Ann, Kailee Rose, Kailee Lynn, Kailee Jo, and Kailee Renee.
What are good sibling names for Kailee?
Names that pair well with Kailee as siblings include Hayley, Brayden, Jayden, Taylor, Jordan, and Avery.
How many syllables does Kailee have?
Kailee has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Kailee a common or rare name?
Kailee is an uncommon name, ranked #1935 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Kailee?
About the Name Kailee
Kailee is a girl name with American, Irish, and English origins . The name means "gentle, beautiful, precious" in Irish Gaelic .
Is Kailee a boy or girl name? Kailee is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,935 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #36,065. Kailee is more commonly used as a girl name.
Kailee is currently ranked #1,935 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Kailee has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Kailee include Kai, Kail, and Lee. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Kailee include Kailani, Kailany, Kailey, Kailyn, Kaila . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis