Kayleigh
Kayleigh is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pure meadow, or beloved clearing.
Origin and history
Kayleigh is an Anglicized combination blending the prefix Kay (often derived from Katherine, meaning pure) with the popular suffix -leigh (meaning meadow). It gained significant popularity in the late 20th century, particularly influenced by modern name-blending trends and popular culture. In the United States, it remains a well-established modern classic for girls.
Popularity in the United States
34,561 babies in the United States have been named Kayleigh since 1880. It ranks #754 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #546.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8.1 %)
- NY (6.3 %)
- CA (5.6 %)
- FL (5.2 %)
- OH (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,677 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,634 |
| 2000-2010 | 11,770 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,235 |
| 2020-2029 | 3,245 |
Famous people named Kayleigh
- Kayleigh McEnany: Press Secretary, Political Commentator
Nicknames
Kay, Lee, Kay-Kay
Fun facts
- The name saw a dramatic surge in UK and international popularity after the rock band Marillion released their hit single 'Kayleigh' in 1985.
- Kayleigh represents a late 20th-century trend of combining traditional names with phonetic endings like -lee or -leigh.