How to say it
KYLE
/kaɪl/
Masculine
Kyle
Narrow strait
What it means
A Scottish name from the Gaelic caol, 'narrow,' as in a strait or channel.
Kyle comes from the Scottish Gaelic caol, 'narrow,' the word for a strait or channel, and a region of Ayrshire. It crossed into first-name use and became a huge favorite in the 1980s and 90s. Clean and friendly, one easy syllable. Said KYLE.
Popularity over time
peaked at #18 in 1990, currently #509 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
From the Gaelic for a 'narrow strait.'
Spelling variants
- Kyel
- Kile
- Coyle
Names with the same feeling
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