Meaning, origin, history
Kayleigh is a name of Irish origin and it has two possible meanings. The first meaning is "fiery" or "flame-haired," which refers to people with red hair. This meaning comes from the Gaelic word "caol" which means slender or slim, combined with the word "ach" which means fair or light. The second meaning of Kayleigh is "graceful" or "beautiful." This meaning is derived from the Irish words "céad" meaning first and "leath" meaning half, giving the name a poetic sense of being the fairest or most beautiful of all.
The history of the name Kayleigh dates back to ancient Ireland. It was not widely used until the 20th century when it started to gain popularity in English-speaking countries. Today, Kayleigh is considered an attractive and unique name for girls. In the United States, it has been consistently ranked among the top 1,000 names for girls since the 1970s.
Some famous people named Kayleigh include British singer-songwriter and actress Kayleigh Pearson and American figure skater Kayleigh Wilson. While these individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields, they are not directly associated with the origin or meaning of the name Kayleigh itself.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Kayleah since 1880
Total births
640
Total since 1880
Peak year
2010
31 births
in 2023
17
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
-10%
↘
vs previous 5 years