Kyle first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kyle has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kyle

A masculine English name of obscure meaning, possibly related to a Scottish surname.

Popularity of Kyle by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kyle is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Kyle being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 716 male babies and 31 female babies born with the name Kyle.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 31 baby girls were named Kyle in 2024, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

YearMale CountFemale Count
202471631
202375430
202280424
202189133
20201,05446
20191,38143
20181,67665
20171,83848
20162,03643
20152,39060
20142,38568
20132,58858
20122,96652
20113,26758
20103,57733
20094,17834
20084,70330
20075,35442
20066,15047
20056,68638
20047,82674
20038,65161
200210,06345
200110,56956
200011,96953
199913,77266
199815,27594
199715,916115
199615,601105
199516,758124
199418,395155
199319,453162
199220,712173
199121,612163
199022,709237
198920,879254
198819,894290
198719,863319
198619,314261
198516,520303
198412,544230
198312,376243
19828,209189
19816,571157
19805,780173
19795,451165
19784,517159
19773,50783
19763,30963
19752,83289

The history of the first name Kyle

The name Kyle has its origins in the Celtic language and culture, dating back to the Middle Ages. Its earliest form was the Gaelic name "Cailill" or "Caolaidhe," derived from the words "cael" meaning "slender" and "gille" meaning "lad" or "servant."

This name was particularly popular in Scotland and Ireland, where it was often associated with the Clan Kyle, a prominent Scottish clan with roots in Ayrshire. The name Kyle is also believed to have been influenced by the Norse word "keila," which means "narrow strip of land."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kyle can be found in the medieval Irish text "Annals of the Four Masters," which mentions a King Cailill of Connacht in the 7th century. The name also appears in various Scottish historical records and documents from the 11th century onwards.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Kyle. One of the earliest was Kyle of Lochalsh (c. 1010-1070), a Scottish warrior and Chief of the Clan Mackenzie. Another prominent figure was Kyle Oge O'Donnell (c. 1509-1566), an Irish chieftain and Lord of Tyrconnell.

In more recent times, Kyle Rote Jr. (1942-2018) was an American soccer player and coach who played for the United States national team and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Kyle Petty (born 1960) is a former NASCAR driver and current television analyst, while Kyle Korver (born 1981) is a retired professional basketball player who spent 17 seasons in the NBA.

Other notable individuals with the name Kyle include Kyle MacLachlan (born 1959), an American actor known for his roles in films such as "Dune" and "Blue Velvet," and Kyle Chandler (born 1965), an American actor who starred in the critically acclaimed television series "Friday Night Lights."

These examples demonstrate the enduring popularity and diverse cultural influences of the name Kyle, which has evolved from its Celtic roots to become a recognizable name across various regions and time periods.

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 Kyle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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