Keily

Meaning & origin

Keily is a modern American name that first appeared on the U.S. Social Security rolls in 1969. It reached its highest rank of 1190 in 2020, but has been steadily falling in popularity since 2019, reflecting a broader trend away from similar sounding names. In the most recent year with available data, 2025, Keily's frequency was about 1 in 8,285 births, placing it in the moderate usage category. The name is most common in Alabama, Virginia, and Maryland, suggesting a regional preference in the South and Mid-Atlantic. Keily's rise and fall pattern is typical of names that emerge from variant spellings or phonetic invention, appealing to parents seeking a name that sounds familiar yet distinctive. Its similarity to established names like Keely and Keeley may contribute to its steady but not spectacular usage, and its recent decline may indicate that its peak has passed.

Keily first appeared in U.S. records in 1969, likely a respelling or variant of Keely, which itself derives from the Irish surname Ó Caollaidhe. However, the spelling Keily may also be a modern coinage formed from sounds popular in the late 20th century, such as the -ee ending seen in many feminine names.