UK girl's name
Keyleigh
A feminine name of English origin meaning "field of keys".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Keyleigh is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keyleigh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 14 births.
This profile covers 97 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 96 living people in the UK are called Keyleigh. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Keyleigh ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 14 girls were registered as Keyleigh.
- • About 96 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keyleigh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
14 births
Estimated living
96
2026
Meaning
What does Keyleigh mean?
The given name Keyleigh is a relatively modern variation of the traditional English name Kaylee. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "cæelic," which means "keeper of the keys." This name was initially bestowed upon individuals responsible for safeguarding the keys to important buildings or areas, such as churches or castles.
During the Middle Ages, the name Kaylee gained popularity as a feminine form of the male name Cayley or Cailey. It was commonly used in medieval English literature and records, particularly in regions like Yorkshire and Lancashire. The spelling "Keyleigh" emerged later, likely in the 19th or 20th century, as a creative variant of the original name.
While there are no known references to the name Keyleigh in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaylee date back to the 13th century. One notable example is Kaylee de Brus, a noblewoman who lived in the late 13th century and was a member of the influential Bruce family of Scotland.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Keyleigh or its variations. One such person was Keyleigh Walmsley (1901-1982), a British writer and journalist known for her contributions to children's literature. Another was Keyleigh Tanner (1920-2004), an American actress and model who appeared in various Broadway productions and television shows in the mid-20th century.
In the field of sports, Keyleigh Groven (born 1985) is a former Canadian soccer player who represented her country in international competitions. Keyleigh Norquay (born 1988) is a Canadian rower who won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Lastly, Keyleigh Shalvey (born 1991) is a contemporary Irish artist and illustrator known for her work in comic books and graphic novels, including collaborations with writer Brian K. Vaughan on the series "Saga."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Keyleigh over time
The chart below shows babies named Keyleigh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Keyleigh, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Keyleigh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keyleigh 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 | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3082 | 53 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1692 | 41 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Keyleigh
- 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
Keyleigh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Keyleigh in the UK right now?
In 2012, Keyleigh was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Keyleigh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 14 babies registered as Keyleigh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Keyleigh?
A feminine name of English origin meaning "field of keys".
How many people are called Keyleigh in the UK?
A total of 97 babies have been registered as Keyleigh across the 14 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.