Declining since 2010.
Popularity of Kail since 1962
Babies named Kail per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 11 |
| 1970s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 40 |
| 1990s | 5 | 79 |
| 2000s | 31 | 247 |
| 2010s | 0 | 195 |
| 2020s | 0 | 28 |
Meaning & origin
Kail is a modern, uncommon name that first appeared on U.S. birth certificates in 1962. While it has never broken into the national top 1,000, it experienced a modest peak in 2011. Since 2010, its trajectory has been falling, making it a rare and distinctive choice. The name's exact origin is unclear, possibly a respelling of Kale or an Anglicized Irish surname. Its sound aligns with contemporary fashionable names like Cole and Jace. Without ties to any top state or famous bearer, Kail remains an unencumbered, under-the-radar option.
Kail is a modern American coinage that emerged in the mid-20th century, first recorded in 1962. It may be a respelling or variant of Kale, which itself can be a short form of Kaleb (the biblical Caleb) or a transferred use of the Irish surname Kail (an Anglicized form of Mac Cathail, 'son of Cathal'). The name's usage has remained sparse, with a peak of popularity in 2011.
“Kail” around the world
Where Kail lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Kail
Names that share Kail's style, for a brother or sister.
