"slender, graceful"
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Language: English
Kailey
Does Kailey flow with your last name?
A cheerful modern name perfect for girls who'll grow into leaders
American
Irish
English
Modern
Playful
Gentle
Trendy
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"pure meadow"
Origin: Greek/Old English compound
Language: English
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The Story of Kailey
Kailey is a modern spelling variation of Kaylee or Kayleigh, which blends Kay (a diminutive of Katherine, meaning pure) with the Lee suffix (from Old English leah, meaning meadow). Some derive it from the Irish Caol meaning slender or the Gaelic ceol meaning music. As with many -lee ending names, Kailey emerged as an American creative spelling in the late 20th century.
Kailey and its many variant spellings (Kaylee, Kayleigh, Kaleigh, Kaley) peaked in the US around 2000-2010. It was part of the Hailey-Bailey-Kaylee wave of rhyming names that dominated that era. The distinctive K spelling distinguishes it within a crowded field of similar names.
The name is quintessentially American in its creative spelling approach and has few cultural associations outside English-speaking countries. Kaylee from the TV series Firefly gave the name a beloved fictional association.
Historical Record
Kailey first appeared in US Social Security records in 1970.
Over 27,089 babies have been named Kailey in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Kailey is past its peak , currently ranked #1,284 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Kaylee and its variants appear in at least 12 different spellings in popular use, making it one of the most spelling-diverse names in America
- Kaylee Frye from the TV series Firefly is beloved as a warm, optimistic character
Kailey in Other Languages
Irish
Caol
French
Kailey
Spanish
Kailey
Popularity Over Time
#1,284
Current Rank
Peaked 2004
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Kailey
K
Kaylee DeFer
Actor
1986
American actress known for her role in Gossip Girl
K
Kaylee Frye Fictional
Other
Beloved engineer character on the TV series Firefly, known for her warmth and mechanical genius
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Compare Kailey with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,284
- Total SSA Count
- 180
- Cultural Origins
- American Irish English
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Kay
Kai
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Kailey
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Kailey is also used as a boy name, ranked #8841.
View Kailey as a boy name →Similar Names
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Latin origin
"purple gemstone"
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Ripley
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English origin
"from Ripley (place name)"
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Irish Gaelic Coileán origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kailey
What does the name Kailey mean?
"slender, graceful" (from Irish Gaelic). "pure meadow" (from Greek/Old English compound). Kailey is a modern spelling variation of Kaylee or Kayleigh, which blends Kay (a diminutive of Katherine, meaning pure) with the Lee suffix (from Old English leah, meaning meadow). Some derive it from the Irish Caol meaning slender or the Gaelic ceol meaning music. As with many -lee ending names, Kailey emerged as an American creative spelling in the late 20th century.
What is the origin of the name Kailey?
Kailey has Irish Gaelic, Greek/Old English compound, American, Irish, and English origins. In Irish Gaelic, it means "slender, graceful". In Greek/Old English compound, it means "pure meadow".
Is Kailey a boy or girl name?
Kailey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1284. As a boy name, it is ranked #8841. Kailey is more commonly used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Kailey?
Kailey is currently ranked #1284 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Kailey?
Common nicknames for Kailey include Kay and Kai.
What are good middle names for Kailey?
Popular middle name pairings include Kailey Ann, Kailey Grace, Kailey Marie, Kailey Rose, Kailey Elizabeth, Kailey Nicole, and Kailey Lynn.
What are good sibling names for Kailey?
Names that pair well with Kailey as siblings include Hailey, Bailey, Kylie, Rylee, Brielle, Peyton, and Jayden.
How many syllables does Kailey have?
Kailey has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Kailey a common or rare name?
Kailey is an uncommon name, ranked #1284 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Kailey?
About the Name Kailey
Kailey is a girl name with American, Irish, and English origins . The name means "slender, graceful" in Irish Gaelic .
Is Kailey a boy or girl name? Kailey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,284 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #8,841. Kailey is more commonly used as a girl name.
Kailey is currently ranked #1,284 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Kailey has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Kailey include Kay and Kai. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Kailey include Kailani, Kailany, Kailyn, Kaila, Kailee . 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