NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Kayal

A feminine name of Tamil origin meaning "lake or lagoon".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kayal is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kayal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 10 births.

This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2003 to 2023. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Kayal. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kayal ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 10 girls were registered as Kayal.
  • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kayal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 91.7% of Kayal registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5687

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2021

10 births

Estimated living

44

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Kayal

In England and Wales birth records, Kayal has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 8.3% of registrations are for boys and 91.7% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

92% girls
Boys4 (8.3%)Girls44 (91.7%)

Kayal registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,589 in 2007
  • 4 boys registered in 2007
  • Peak: 2007 (4 births)

Kayal registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,687 in 2023
  • 3 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2021 (10 births)

Meaning

What does Kayal mean?

The name Kayal is believed to have originated from the Tamil language, which is one of the oldest classical languages in the world. It is widely spoken in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka. The name is derived from the Tamil word "kaayal," which means "backwater" or "lagoon."

Kayal is a unisex name, and its origins can be traced back to ancient Tamil literature and inscriptions. One of the earliest references to the name can be found in the Sangam literature, a collection of Tamil literary works that date back to the early centuries of the Common Era. In these texts, the name is often associated with characters who lived near bodies of water or coastal regions.

One of the most notable historical figures with the name Kayal is Kayal Vizhundhar, a Tamil poet and scholar who lived during the 7th century CE. He is renowned for his contribution to Tamil literature and his work in preserving the language's rich heritage. Another notable figure is Kayal Aravindhan, a Tamil philosopher and spiritual leader from the 9th century CE, known for his teachings on ethics and morality.

In the realm of religion, the name Kayal is linked to certain Hindu deities and mythological figures. For instance, in some Hindu texts, the name is associated with the goddess Kaalindhi, who is considered the personification of the river Yamuna.

Moving forward in history, one can find several individuals with the name Kayal who have made significant contributions in various fields. Kayal Rani Devi (1858-1941) was a prominent Indian social reformer and educator who played a crucial role in promoting women's education and empowerment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Kayal Vishwanathan (1920-2018) was an acclaimed Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was a pioneer in the field of Bharatanatyam, a major form of Indian classical dance, and her contributions helped in preserving and promoting this art form on a global scale.

Another notable figure is Kayal Vijayan (born 1944), a renowned Indian writer and journalist who has received numerous awards and accolades for his literary works in Malayalam, including novels, short stories, and essays.

While these are just a few examples, the name Kayal has been carried by individuals across various regions, cultures, and time periods, each leaving their mark on history through their accomplishments and contributions to society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kayal over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kayal in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kayal, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
035810200320132023

Decades

Kayal by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kayal 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
2020s #4093 13 2
2010s #4123 25 5
2000s #4959 6 2

Related

Names similar to Kayal

FAQ

Kayal: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kayal in the UK right now?

In 2023, Kayal was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kayal most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 10 babies registered as Kayal in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kayal?

A feminine name of Tamil origin meaning "lake or lagoon".

How many people are called Kayal in the UK?

A total of 44 babies have been registered as Kayal across the 9 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.