Declining since 1998, #7,885 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaylan since 1970
Babies named Kaylan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11 | 0 |
| 1980s | 677 | 84 |
| 1990s | 1,678 | 237 |
| 2000s | 1,388 | 204 |
| 2010s | 549 | 177 |
| 2020s | 99 | 99 |
Meaning & origin
Kaylan entered U.S. naming records in 1970 and saw its highest usage in 1997, when it ranked highest in popularity. The name has been on a downward trend since 1998, reflecting a broader shift away from invented names ending in -lan. While never extremely common, Kaylan achieved modest usage during the 1990s. It is most often given to girls, and its spelling variations such as Kaylen and Kalyn have followed similar trajectories. The name's modern coinage means it lacks deep historical roots, but its familiar sound keeps it in occasional use.
Kaylan first appears in U.S. records in the 1970s, likely arising as a modern coined name. It may combine the popular element Kay (from names like Kayla) with the suffix -lan (as in Nolan or land), or be an altered spelling of Irish Calan or Kellan. No traditional etymology exists; it is considered a 20th-century invention.
Where Kaylan 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.
“Kaylan” around the world
Where Kaylan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
185
babies in 2024
Quebec
10
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kay, Lanie
Sibling names for Kaylan
Names that share Kaylan's style, for a brother or sister.
