Declining since 2009.
Popularity of Kileigh since 1979
Babies named Kileigh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 15 |
| 1990s | 96 |
| 2000s | 356 |
| 2010s | 189 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kileigh is a modern American spelling of the Irish surname Kiley, derived from Ó Cadhla. The name first entered U.S. records in 1979, a time when creative phonetic spellings began to flourish. Its popularity peaked in 2009, the same year many similar -leigh names reached their height. Since 2009, its usage has been steadily falling, reflecting broader trends away from the -leigh suffix. Though it has never ranked among the top 1000 names, Kileigh represents a broader movement toward personalized spellings that distinguish children through unique orthography rather than distinct sounds. As a variant firmly rooted in the Irish tradition but reshaped by American naming conventions, it sits at the intersection of heritage and modernity.
Kileigh is a modern American respelling of Kiley, itself an Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla. The original Irish name Cadhla means 'graceful' or 'beautiful'. This spelling became popular in the late 20th century, following the trend of creative phonetic spellings. It has been used predominantly for girls.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kiki, Lee, Kiley
Sibling names for Kileigh
Names that share Kileigh's style, for a brother or sister.
