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 July 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
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give 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.