Kailyn
A feminine name of American origin meaning "pure".
Name Census estimates that about 14,013 living Americans carry the first name Kailyn. It is a predominantly female name (99.1% of registrations). The average person named Kailyn today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kailyn births was 2011 (799 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kailyn. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Kailyn is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 132 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
14K
~ 1 in 24,460 Americans
Peak year
2011
799 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,578
Tracked since 1981
Gender
Gender distribution for Kailyn
Out of the 14,230 babies given the name Kailyn since 1880, 99.1% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Kailyn as a male name
- Ranked #5,758 in 2024
- 16 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (16 births)
Kailyn as a female name
- Ranked #1,578 in 2024
- 133 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (793 births)
Popularity
Kailyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kailyn 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 5,609 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
Kailyn 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 Kailyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kailyns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 46 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Kailyn, while Rhode Island, Montana, Alaska recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 269 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kailyn
The name Kailyn is a relatively modern variation of the traditional name Caitlin or Kathleen, which originated from the Gaelic language spoken in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The name Caitlin itself is derived from the ancient Irish name Caitlín, a diminutive form of the name Caitríona, which means "pure" or "strong."
In the early Middle Ages, the name Caitríona was popular among the Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland, often given to young girls as a symbol of purity and strength. As the name spread through different regions and dialects, it evolved into various spellings and pronunciations, such as Kathleen, Caitlin, and eventually Kailyn.
While there are no clear historical records of the name Kailyn itself appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the early Christian era in Ireland. The earliest recorded examples of the name Caitríona and its variations can be found in ancient Irish manuscripts and genealogical records from the 6th to 9th centuries.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Caitlin or its variations. One of the earliest recorded was Saint Caitríona of Ardrahan, an Irish nun and abbess who lived in the 6th century. Another notable figure was Caitlín Ní Uallacháin, an Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts who lived in the 16th century.
In literature, the name Caitlin gained prominence through the works of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who immortalized his wife Caitlin Macnamara in his writing. Other famous historical figures with the name Caitlin or its variations include Caitlin Jenner, an American Olympic gold medalist and television personality (born 1949); Caitlin Moran, a British journalist and author (born 1975); and Caitlyn Stark, an American actress (born 1988).
As for the specific spelling of Kailyn, it is a more recent variation that emerged in the late 20th century, likely influenced by the popularity of unique and creative spellings in modern times. While it lacks the same historical depth as the traditional forms, the name Kailyn carries the essence of its Celtic roots, representing purity, strength, and a connection to the rich cultural heritage of Ireland and Scotland.
People
Kailyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kailyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kailyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kailyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14,013 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kailyn 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 24,460 US residents.
Is Kailyn a common name?
We classify Kailyn as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14,230 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kailyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Kailyn was 2011, when 799 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kailyn is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kailyn a female name?
Yes, 99.1% of people registered as Kailyn 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.