Cailey
Cailey was the 6895th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 1024th; the most babies were born in 1999 (198). Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,269 places. More babies were named Cailey in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kaylee) Origin not documented
- Rank in 2025
- #6,895 girls, down 3,199 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 16girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1999198 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,857babies recorded
What does the name Cailey mean?
Cailey is a spelling of Kaylee, pronounced the same way, so it shares Kaylee's meaning and origin.
Kaylee is a late-20th-century coinage. Wiktionary gives two explanations: a combination of Kay and Lee, or a variant of the surnames Cayley or Keeley. Wikipedia describes it as a modern English blend of Kay and Lee. It became popular in the US in the 1990s and 2000s, with many spellings such as Kailey and Kayleigh. Because it was made for its sound, it has no single meaning.
How sure is this? Not documented. A modern blend (Kay + Lee) or a surname variant; no meaning of its own.
Related names: Kayleigh, Kailey, Kaylie, Caylee, Kylie.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kaylee', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Kaylee', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Cailey popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,895 | 16 |
| 2020 | #3,696 | 40 |
| 2010 | #1,505 | 149 |
| 2000 | #1,081 | 191 |
| 1990 | #3,081 | 36 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Cailey, counting every spelling?
Cailey is a spelling of Kaylee, a name family that ranked #115 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #6,895 for Cailey on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,743 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaylee | 1,205 | #255 | 8,048 |
| Kaeli | 358 | #756 | 1,257 |
| Keily | 194 | #1,191 | 1,257 |
| Kailey | 153 | #1,420 | 1,086 |
| Kaylie | 148 | #1,454 | 1,008 |
| Caylee | 84 | #2,200 | 659 |
| Kailee | 98 | #1,969 | 624 |
| Caeli | 90 | #2,081 | 503 |
| Kayley | 45 | #3,429 | 284 |
| Kayli | 43 | #3,548 | 251 |
| Kaely | 47 | #3,317 | 223 |
| Kaily | 35 | #4,113 | 212 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Cailey?
16 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cailey (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Cailey born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 529 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cailey.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cailey?
About 3,800 people born in the US named Cailey are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 16 and 27. That makes Cailey mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Cailey by state
How common Cailey was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cailey: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cailey, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Cailey
How popular is the name Cailey?
Cailey was the 6895th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 1024th; the most babies were born in 1999 (198). Over the last ten years it has moved down 4,269 places. More babies were named Cailey in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Cailey a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Cailey in the US.
Where is Cailey most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cailey was most common in California (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and Texas.