Kayse

Meaning & origin

Kayse is an uncommonly used name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1974. Despite never entering the top 1000, it reached its highest usage in 1987. The name is a modern respelling of Casey, which itself comes from an Irish surname, Ó Cathasaigh, meaning 'descendant of the vigilant one.' Kayse has maintained a stable level of usage over the decades, with no significant spike or decline. It is used for both girls and boys, though more frequently for girls. As a phonetic variant, Kayse offers a distinctive alternative to the more common Casey or Kasey.

Kayse is most likely a modern respelling of Casey, an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Cathasaigh, meaning 'descendant of Cathasach,' a personal name derived from 'cathas' meaning 'vigilant' or 'watchful.' The name Casey has been used as a given name in the United States since the 19th century, and Kayse emerged as a phonetic variant later in the 20th century.