Kaeli
Kaeli was the 756th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 358 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 679th with 430 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 3,896 places. More babies were named Kaeli in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kaylee) Origin not documented
- Rank in 2025
- #756 girls, up 3,460 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 358girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2023430 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,447babies recorded
What does the name Kaeli mean?
Kaeli 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
Kaeli popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #756 | 358 |
| 2020 | #4,216 | 33 |
| 2010 | #3,178 | 52 |
| 2000 | #1,608 | 110 |
| 1990 | #2,074 | 64 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Kaeli, counting every spelling?
Kaeli is a spelling of Kaylee, a name family that ranked #115 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #756 for Kaeli 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 Kaeli?
358 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Kaeli (0.10 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Kaeli 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 23 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Kaeli.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Kaeli?
About 3,400 people born in the US named Kaeli are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 3 and 27. That makes Kaeli 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.
Kaeli by state
How common Kaeli was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Nevada (3.1×), Arizona (3.0×), Texas (3.0×), California (2.0×), Illinois (1.6×). In 24 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 Kaeli: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kaeli, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kaeli
How popular is the name Kaeli?
Kaeli was the 756th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 358 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 679th with 430 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 3,896 places. More babies were named Kaeli in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Kaeli a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Kaeli in the US.
Where is Kaeli most popular?
In 2021–2025, Kaeli was most common in New Mexico (0.70 per 1,000 girls), followed by Nevada and Arizona.