Declining since 2009, #9,457 for girls today.
Popularity of Caileigh since 1988
Babies named Caileigh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 18 |
| 1990s | 222 |
| 2000s | 437 |
| 2010s | 398 |
| 2020s | 102 |
Meaning & origin
Caileigh is a modern respelling that emerged during the late 20th-century trend of creative name coinages. First recorded in 1988, it reached its peak popularity in 2008, but its usage has been steadily declining since 2009. In 2025, the name ranked 9,457th, with approximately 1 in every 160,727 girls receiving it, indicating its rarity. The name has no strong ties to any particular state, as it has not appeared in top-state data. Its etymology is uncertain, likely a phonetic variant of Kaylee, itself a modern formation. As a respelling, Caileigh exemplifies the American preference for unique spellings, though it lacks deep historical or cultural roots.
Caileigh is a modern invented spelling, part of a late 20th-century trend of creative respellings of popular names like Kaylee or Kylie. It does not have a traditional etymology; its pronunciation follows the common 'KAY-lee' pattern. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1988, reflecting the era's preference for unique phonetic variants.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cai, Lee, Cail
Sibling names for Caileigh
Names that share Caileigh's style, for a brother or sister.
