Caylyn
A feminine name of uncertain origin, perhaps a variant of Kaylyn.
Name Census estimates that about 436 living Americans carry the first name Caylyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Caylyn today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Caylyn births was 2009 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Caylyn. 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
436
~ 1 in 786,134 Americans
Peak year
2009
27 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2020 SSA rank
#10,431
Tracked since 1986
Popularity
Caylyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Caylyn from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 175 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
Caylyn 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 Caylyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Caylyns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Caylyn
The given name Caylyn is a relatively modern invention, with its origins likely stemming from a combination of various Celtic and English language roots. While there is no definitive historical record of its initial usage, it appears to be a name constructed in the late 20th century, possibly inspired by the growing popularity of combining traditional names with unique spellings or phonetic variations.
One potential source of influence could be the Welsh name Celyn, which means "holly" or "holly tree." This name has been used in Wales for centuries and may have served as a foundation for the creation of Caylyn. Additionally, the English name Kaylyn, which is a variant spelling of the name Caitlin, could have contributed to the development of Caylyn as a distinct name.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, a handful of notable individuals have borne the name Caylyn throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Caylyn McCartney (1976-), an American writer and editor known for her contributions to various literary publications. Another prominent figure is Caylyn Tyndall (1982-), a former professional tennis player from the United States who achieved a career-high ranking in the top 100 on the WTA Tour.
In the field of sports, Caylyn Legg (1991-) is a notable American soccer player who has represented the United States at various youth national team levels. Additionally, Caylyn Roenicke (1988-) is a former professional baseball player who played for the Colorado Rockies organization.
Outside of the Western world, one noteworthy individual with the name Caylyn is Caylyn Zaaiman (1986-), a South African field hockey player who has represented her country at multiple Olympic Games and World Cup tournaments.
While the name Caylyn may be a relatively modern creation, its combination of Celtic and English influences has allowed it to gain a foothold in various cultures and communities around the world. The individuals mentioned above represent just a few examples of the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with this unique name.
People
Caylyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Caylyn 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
Caylyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Caylyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 436 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Caylyn 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 786,134 US residents.
Is Caylyn a common name?
We classify Caylyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 445 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Caylyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Caylyn was 2009, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Caylyn is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Caylyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Caylyn 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.