Cayley
Cayley was the 12169th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 1994th with 75 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 6,297 places. More babies were named Cayley in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kaylee) Origin not documented
- Rank in 2025
- #12,169 girls, down 2,464 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 7girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 199875 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,213babies recorded
What does the name Cayley mean?
Cayley 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
Cayley popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,169 | 7 |
| 2020 | #9,705 | 10 |
| 2010 | #6,431 | 20 |
| 2000 | #2,679 | 55 |
| 1990 | #6,178 | 14 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Cayley, counting every spelling?
Cayley is a spelling of Kaylee, a name family that ranked #115 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #12,169 for Cayley 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 Cayley?
7 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cayley (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Cayley 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 1,224 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cayley.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cayley?
About 1,200 people born in the US named Cayley are alive today, with a median age of 25; half are between 18 and 30. That makes Cayley 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.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cayley: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cayley, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Cayley
How popular is the name Cayley?
Cayley was the 12169th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 1994th with 75 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 6,297 places. More babies were named Cayley in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Cayley a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Cayley in the US.