Find out how popular the first name Caley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Caley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Caley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 95% of people named Caley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Caley.

The history of the first name Caley

The name Caley is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, which is a Celtic language spoken primarily in Scotland and Ireland. It is thought to be derived from the Gaelic word "cailleach," which means "old woman" or "nun."

In ancient Celtic mythology, the Cailleach was a powerful female figure associated with winter, storms, and the natural world. She was often depicted as an old woman or a hag, but was also revered as a wise and powerful goddess. The name Caley may have been used to honor this mythological figure or to invoke her protection.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Caley can be found in the 16th century Scottish text, "The Complaynt of Scotland," written in 1549. This literary work mentions a character named "Caley," though it is unclear whether this was a given name or a surname.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Caley. One of the most well-known was Caley Rea (1782-1859), an Irish-born botanist and horticulturist who worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England. He made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of plants, and many species were named in his honor.

Another notable figure was Caley Tiffault (1923-2008), a Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1940s. He was part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1946.

In the world of literature, Caley Nalin (1924-2002) was an American poet and writer known for her works exploring themes of nature, spirituality, and the human experience. Her poetry collections include "The Burning Field" (1972) and "Transcendence" (1984).

In the field of art, Caley Griego (1906-1998) was a Mexican-American painter and printmaker renowned for her depictions of Southwestern landscapes and Native American subjects. Her works are held in numerous museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Finally, Caley Donovan (1926-2016) was an Australian actor and director who had a successful career in theater, film, and television. She was known for her performances in productions such as "The Crucible" and "Macbeth," and was awarded the Order of Australia for her contributions to the arts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Caley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Caley, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!