UK boy's name
Kailem
An American invented name derived from the Irish surname Callan.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kailem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kailem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 11 births.
This profile covers 147 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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.
The latest count is about 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 146 living people in the UK are called Kailem. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kailem ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 11 boys were registered as Kailem.
- • About 146 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kailem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
11 births
Estimated living
146
2026
Meaning
What does Kailem mean?
The name Kailem has its origins in the ancient Sumerian culture, one of the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3500 BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sumerian word "kailu," which means "messenger" or "envoy." This suggests that the name may have been originally given to individuals who served as messengers or intermediaries in diplomatic or religious contexts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kailem can be found in cuneiform inscriptions from the city of Ur, where it appears to have been used as a personal name for both men and women. These inscriptions date back to around 2500 BCE, during the Early Dynastic Period of Sumer.
In later periods, the name Kailem appears to have spread to other cultures and regions within the broader Mesopotamian world. For instance, there are references to individuals with this name in ancient Akkadian and Babylonian texts from the 2nd millennium BCE.
While not explicitly mentioned in major religious scriptures, the name Kailem may have held significance in the polytheistic belief systems of ancient Mesopotamia, where deities often had multiple messengers or intermediaries. However, the specific mythological or religious connotations of the name remain unclear.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kailem:
1. Kailem of Ur (c. 2400 BCE) – A prominent merchant and trader in the city of Ur during the Sumerian Renaissance. 2. Kailem the Scribe (c. 1800 BCE) – An influential scribe and scholar in the court of the Babylonian king Hammurabi. 3. Kailem the Physician (c. 1200 BCE) – A renowned healer and herbalist in ancient Assyria, known for his contributions to early medical practices. 4. Kailem the Astronomer (c. 700 BCE) – A renowned astronomer and mathematician in the Neo-Babylonian period, credited with advancing celestial observations and calculations. 5. Kailem the Poet (c. 500 BCE) – A celebrated poet and writer in ancient Persia, whose works explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.
While the name Kailem may have faded in usage over the centuries, its ancient Sumerian origins and association with the role of a messenger or envoy have left an indelible mark on its historical significance and enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kailem over time
The chart below shows babies named Kailem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kailem, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kailem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kailem 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3293 | 52 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2458 | 63 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1505 | 32 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kailem
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kailem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kailem in the UK right now?
In 2018, Kailem was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kailem most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 11 babies registered as Kailem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kailem?
An American invented name derived from the Irish surname Callan.
How many people are called Kailem in the UK?
A total of 147 babies have been registered as Kailem across the 23 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.