UK boy's name
Caylem
A masculine name derived from the Gaelic elements "cal" meaning sound and "lem" meaning value.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Caylem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Caylem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2318, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 8 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Caylem is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 33 living people in the UK are called Caylem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Caylem ranked #2318 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 8 boys were registered as Caylem.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Caylem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2318
2009
Births in 2009
8
Latest year
Peak year
2009
8 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Meaning
What does Caylem mean?
The name Caylem is believed to have originated from the ancient Celtic language, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period around the 5th to 8th centuries CE. It is thought to have derived from the Gaelic words "caileamh," meaning "keeper" or "guardian," and "dún," meaning "fort" or "stronghold." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who held positions of responsibility and authority in protecting fortified settlements or territories.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Caylem can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval Irish chronicle documenting historical events from the 5th to the 16th centuries. The name appears in entries from the 7th century, referring to a notable figure described as a "caileamh dún" or "keeper of the fort" in the region now known as Northern Ireland.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Caylem gained popularity among Irish and Scottish clans, particularly those with strongholds or fortified settlements in their territories. It was often bestowed upon firstborn sons or those destined to inherit leadership roles within their respective clans.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Caylem O'Donnell was recorded as the chieftain of the powerful O'Donnell clan in Donegal, Ireland. He was known for his strategic military leadership and his successful defense of the clan's territories against rival clans and Viking raids.
Another historical figure bearing the name Caylem was a Scottish nobleman from the 14th century. Caylem MacDonald was a prominent member of the Clan MacDonald and is mentioned in Scottish chronicles for his role in negotiating peace treaties and alliances between various clans during a period of ongoing conflicts and power struggles.
In the 16th century, Caylem O'Neill was a prominent Irish chieftain and military leader who played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English colonization efforts in Ireland. He is remembered for his fierce resistance and his efforts to preserve the autonomy and traditions of the Gaelic Irish clans.
While the name Caylem has its roots in Celtic cultures, it has also been adopted and adapted by other linguistic traditions over time. Variations of the name, such as Caylim, Kaylim, and Kailum, can be found in various regions and cultures, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity that has shaped the evolution of this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Caylem over time
The chart below shows babies named Caylem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Caylem, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2009, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caylem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Caylem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3385 | 22 | 5 |
| 1990s | #1968 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Caylem
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Caylem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Caylem in the UK right now?
In 2009, Caylem was ranked #2318 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Caylem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 8 babies registered as Caylem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Caylem?
A masculine name derived from the Gaelic elements "cal" meaning sound and "lem" meaning value.
How many people are called Caylem in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Caylem across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.