Declining since 2010, #1,818 for girls today.
Popularity of Kailyn since 1981
Babies named Kailyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 349 |
| 1990s | 2,422 |
| 2000s | 5,584 |
| 2010s | 4,927 |
| 2020s | 929 |
Meaning & origin
Kailyn is a modern feminine name that first appeared on the U.S. Social Security Administration's baby name records in 1981, but it entered the top 2,000 only in the 1990s. Its peak came in 2011, when it ranked 1,818th, a position it held consistently through the early 2010s before declining. As of 2025, the name's trajectory is falling, with 1 in every 14,612 newborn girls being named Kailyn. The name has been most popular in southern states such as South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Kailyn is a product of the late-20th-century trend of creating feminine names by blending Kay with the popular suffix -lyn, similar to Kaylee and Kaylynn. It is unconnected to any particular cultural or historical figure, making it a purely modern choice.
Kailyn emerged in the late 20th century as a creative respelling or combination of popular name elements. It likely draws from Kay (itself a short form of Katherine) and the common suffix -lyn, echoing names like Kaylee and Caitlin. The name rose sharply in the 1990s and early 2000s, peaking in popularity in 2011.
Where Kailyn is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai, Kay, Lyn
Sibling names for Kailyn
Names that share Kailyn's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Kailyn
Names whose popularity has moved with Kailyn's over the last 50 years.
