UK girl's name
Kayleen
A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "beautiful, wise maiden".
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.
Kayleen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kayleen 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 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2006 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Kayleen. 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
- • Kayleen ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 girls were registered as Kayleen.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kayleen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Kayleen mean?
The name Kayleen is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Caitlín, which is a diminutive form of the name Caitríona. Caitríona itself is derived from the ancient Irish name Cathair, meaning "battle" or "contention." The earliest recorded use of the name Kayleen dates back to the late 19th century.
The name Kayleen has its roots in Celtic mythology and folklore. It is believed to have been associated with the warrior goddess Cathbhuaidh, who was revered for her strength and courage in battle. The name was particularly popular among Irish families who valued these qualities in their daughters.
In ancient Irish texts, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters, there are mentions of women bearing similar names like Caitlín and Caitríona. However, the specific spelling "Kayleen" is a more modern variation that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kayleen was Kayleen Byrne, an Irish-American actress born in 1888. She appeared in several Broadway productions and silent films during the early 20th century. Another notable Kayleen was Kayleen Thompson, an Australian novelist and poet born in 1926, who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage.
In the realm of sports, Kayleen Pritchard, a Canadian figure skater born in 1942, represented Canada at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Kayleen Conaghan, an Irish golfer born in 1967, won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 1991.
Additionally, Kayleen Halko, an American poet and writer born in 1962, has gained acclaim for her collections exploring themes of feminism, nature, and spirituality. Her works include "The Breath Between Us" and "The Flower of Awakening."
Throughout history, the name Kayleen has been associated with strength, resilience, and a connection to one's cultural roots. While its origins lie in ancient Celtic traditions, it has evolved to become a name embraced by families across various cultures and backgrounds.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kayleen over time
The chart below shows babies named Kayleen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Kayleen, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kayleen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kayleen 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 | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4547 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kayleen
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kayleen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kayleen in the UK right now?
In 2023, Kayleen was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Kayleen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Kayleen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kayleen?
A feminine name of Irish origin meaning "beautiful, wise maiden".
How many people are called Kayleen in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Kayleen across the 3 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.