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.
The name Kayleah has seen a varied history of popularity over the past few decades in the United States. In the late 80s and early 90s, its prevalence was relatively low, with only five births recorded in 1987 and seven in 1988. However, it began to gain traction in the mid-90s, with a notable increase in popularity between 1995 and 1997, during which time there were 15 births each year.
The trend continued into the new millennium, with Kayleah reaching its peak popularity between 2002 and 2008. During this period, it consistently ranked among the top 1000 names for newborn girls in the United States, with a high of 31 births recorded in 2010. This consistent growth over time indicates that Kayleah has established itself as a popular choice among American parents.
Despite a slight dip in popularity in recent years, with only seven births recorded in 2020 and 17 in 2023, the name remains relatively common. In total, there have been 640 newborn girls named Kayleah in the United States since 1987. This demonstrates that while its popularity may fluctuate from year to year, Kayleah has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names over time.