Declining since 2006, #7,133 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaylei since 1986
Babies named Kaylei per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 40 |
| 1990s | 226 |
| 2000s | 1,015 |
| 2010s | 689 |
| 2020s | 164 |
Meaning & origin
Kaylei first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1986, a period when the syllable "Kay" and the -ee/ei ending were gaining popularity in invented names. At its peak in 2007, the name ranked #7,133, reflecting 1 in 107,151 births that year. Since then, its usage has been steadily declining, particularly after 2006. Though it has no strong regional concentration, it fits the pattern of modern feminine names like Kaylee and Kailey. As a 2000s-era coinage, Kaylei remains a uncommon but recognizable choice.
Kaylei is a modern variant of the popular name Kaylee, which itself emerged in the late 20th century as a respelling of the Irish surname Caolí (meaning "slender") or as a combination of Kay and the -lee suffix. The spelling Kaylei follows the trendy -ei ending seen in other invented names. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1986 and peaked in popularity in 2007.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kay, Lei
Sibling names for Kaylei
Names that share Kaylei's style, for a brother or sister.
