How to say it
KAY · lee
ˈkeɪ.li
Feminine
Kaylee
A modern blend
What it means
A modern American name, the popular Kay- sound joined to the -lee ending; it loosely echoes the Irish ceilidh, a music gathering.
Kaylee is a name the 1990s built, fusing the fashionable Kay- opening (as in Kayla) with the bouncy -lee ending shared by Hailey and Bailey. There's no ancient root, though it happens to echo the Irish ceilidh, a lively gathering with music and dance. It reads bright, friendly, and of its moment, and runs in a dozen spellings from Kayleigh to Caylee. A signature millennial-era name.
How to spell Kaylee
The standard spelling is Kaylee. Common variants include Kaylie, Kayleigh, Caylee, but Kaylee is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #26 in 2009, currently #255 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Spellings run wide: Kaylee, Kaylie, Kayleigh, Caylee.
- Pop culture
A coinage of the 1990s -ley naming wave with Bailey and Hailey.
Who's worn it
- Kaylee Frye ship's mechanic in the television series Firefly
Spelling variants
- Kaylie
- Kayleigh
- Caylee
Names with the same feeling
See Kaylee from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Kaylee mean?
- A modern American name, the popular Kay- sound joined to the -lee ending; it loosely echoes the Irish ceilidh, a music gathering.
- What does Kaylee mean in English?
- In English, Kaylee means "A modern blend." Kaylee is a name the 1990s built, fusing the fashionable Kay- opening (as in Kayla) with the bouncy -lee ending shared by Hailey and Bailey. There's no ancient root, though it happens to echo the Irish ceilidh, a lively gathering with music and dance. It reads bright, friendly, and of its moment, and runs in a dozen spellings from Kayleigh to Caylee. A signature millennial-era name.
- How do you pronounce Kaylee?
- Kaylee is pronounced ˈkeɪ.li. Say it as KAY-lee, with the stress on the "kay" syllable.
- How do you spell Kaylee?
- The standard spelling is Kaylee. Common spelling variants include Kaylie, Kayleigh, Caylee.
- Is Kaylee a boy or girl name?
- Kaylee is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Kaylee?
- Kaylee ranked #255 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.