Caeley
A feminine name derived from the Irish word "cáel" meaning "slender".
Name Census estimates that about 415 living Americans carry the first name Caeley. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Caeley today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Caeley births was 2000 (46 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Caeley. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
415
~ 1 in 825,914 Americans
Peak year
2000
46 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2014 SSA rank
#11,154
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Caeley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Caeley from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 270 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caeley by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Caeley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Caeleys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Illinois recorded the most babies named Caeley, while Ohio, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Caeley
The name Caeley is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, with roots in the Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Irish name Cailin, which means "young woman" or "girl."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Caeley can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle of Irish history dating back to the 15th century. Here, the name appears as a feminine form of the name Caley, which was used for both men and women in that era.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Caeley was primarily concentrated in the regions of Ulster and Connacht in Ireland, as well as the Scottish Highlands. It was particularly popular among Gaelic-speaking communities and families with strong ties to their Celtic heritage.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Caeley was Caeley O'Donnell, a chieftain of the O'Donnell clan in County Donegal, Ireland. She played a pivotal role in defending her clan's lands against the English forces during the Nine Years' War (1594-1603).
Another historical figure with the name Caeley was Caeley MacLeod, a Scottish noblewoman who lived in the late 17th century. She was known for her involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, supporting the claim of the House of Stuart to the British throne.
During the 19th century, the name Caeley saw a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Ireland and Scotland. One notable bearer of the name was Caeley MacDonald (1825-1892), a Scottish author and poet who wrote extensively about Highland culture and traditions.
As Gaelic names gained more acceptance and recognition in the 20th century, the name Caeley continued to be used, although it remained relatively uncommon compared to some other Celtic names. Caeley O'Brien (1919-1995), an Irish actress and singer, was one of the more prominent figures with this name during that time.
While the name Caeley has ancient roots and a rich cultural heritage, it has remained a relatively rare name throughout history. Its enduring use, however, reflects the enduring pride and appreciation for Celtic traditions and the preservation of Gaelic naming practices.
People
Caeley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Caeley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Caeley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Caeley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 415 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Caeley going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 825,914 US residents.
Is Caeley a common name?
We classify Caeley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 423 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Caeley most popular?
The single biggest year for Caeley was 2000, when 46 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Caeley is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Caeley a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Caeley in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.