Declining since 1998, #2,514 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaylyn since 1949
Babies named Kaylyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 35 |
| 1960s | 131 |
| 1970s | 125 |
| 1980s | 941 |
| 1990s | 4,039 |
| 2000s | 4,178 |
| 2010s | 2,153 |
| 2020s | 446 |
Meaning & origin
Kaylyn is a modern American name that first appeared on the U.S. baby name charts in 1949, but its real surge came in the 1990s. It reached its peak rank in 1997, reflecting the era's fondness for names ending in -lyn and -lee. Since 1998, its popularity has been steadily falling; in 2025 it ranked 2514th, with only about 1 in 22,961 girls receiving the name. The name was most common in Arkansas, Georgia, and New York, showing a spread across both southern and northeastern states. Kaylyn remains a familiar yet less common choice, anchoring a broader trend of similar names such as Kaylee and Kaitlyn that defined the late 20th century.
Kaylyn emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century, following the trend of creating names by combining the element Kay with the suffix -lyn (as seen in names like Katelyn and Madelyn). Kay itself is often a diminutive of Katherine, a name of Greek origin meaning 'pure'. The resulting name Kaylyn has no ancient roots but became popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in the southern United States.
Where Kaylyn 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: Kay, Lyn, Kay-Kay
Sibling names for Kaylyn
Names that share Kaylyn's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Kaylyn
Names whose popularity has moved with Kaylyn's over the last 50 years.
