NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Keleigh

A feminine variant of the English name "Kelly", meaning "warrior lass.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Keleigh is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keleigh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 11 births.

This profile covers 82 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. 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 81 living people in the UK are called Keleigh. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Keleigh ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 11 girls were registered as Keleigh.
  • About 81 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keleigh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5707

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

11 births

Estimated living

81

2026

Meaning

What does Keleigh mean?

The given name Keleigh is a modern English variation of the Irish feminine name Ceilidh, which is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic word "céilidh" meaning a traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering. The name's origins can be traced back to the Gaelic language spoken in Scotland and Ireland during the medieval period.

Ceilidh, the original Gaelic spelling, was derived from the Old Irish word "céle" meaning companion or spouse. It was initially used to refer to a social visit or gathering, often involving music, dancing, and storytelling. Over time, it evolved into a given name, particularly popular among Scottish and Irish families.

While there are no known historical references to the specific name Keleigh in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name's roots in Celtic culture and traditions are well-documented. The earliest recorded examples of the name Ceilidh can be found in Scottish and Irish genealogical records dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ceilidh or its variations, including:

1. Ceilidh Sutherland (born 1987), a Canadian actress known for her roles in television series such as "Reign" and "Killjoys". 2. Ceilidh Millar (born 1994), a Scottish Olympic snowboarder who competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. 3. Ceilidh Firth (born 1981), a Scottish actress and writer, best known for her work in independent films and theater productions. 4. Ceilidh Michelle (born 1992), an American singer-songwriter and musician from Seattle, Washington. 5. Ceilidh Webster (born 1981), a Canadian actress and voice actress, known for her work in animated series such as "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic".

The modern spelling variation, Keleigh, is a more recent development and has become increasingly popular in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States and Canada. While the name retains its Celtic roots, its unique spelling adds a contemporary twist to an ancient cultural tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keleigh over time

The chart below shows babies named Keleigh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Keleigh, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keleigh
036811199620032010

Decades

Keleigh by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keleigh 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 #5707 3 1
2000s #3150 47 8
1990s #2032 32 4

Related

Names similar to Keleigh

FAQ

Keleigh: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Keleigh was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Keleigh most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 11 babies registered as Keleigh in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keleigh?

A feminine variant of the English name "Kelly", meaning "warrior lass.".

How many people are called Keleigh in the UK?

A total of 82 babies have been registered as Keleigh across the 13 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.