Kyle first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kyle has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) 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 2023, there were 754 male babies and 30 female babies born with the name Kyle.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 30 baby girls were named Kyle in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 754 30
2022 804 24
2021 891 33
2020 1,054 46
2019 1,381 43
2018 1,676 65
2017 1,838 48
2016 2,036 43
2015 2,390 60
2014 2,385 68
2013 2,588 58
2012 2,966 52
2011 3,267 58
2010 3,577 33
2009 4,178 34
2008 4,703 30
2007 5,354 42
2006 6,150 47
2005 6,686 38
2004 7,826 74
2003 8,651 61
2002 10,063 45
2001 10,569 56
2000 11,969 53
1999 13,772 66
1998 15,275 94
1997 15,916 115
1996 15,601 105
1995 16,758 124
1994 18,395 155
1993 19,453 162
1992 20,712 173
1991 21,612 163
1990 22,709 237
1989 20,879 254
1988 19,894 290
1987 19,863 319
1986 19,314 261
1985 16,520 303
1984 12,544 230
1983 12,376 243
1982 8,209 189
1981 6,571 157
1980 5,780 173
1979 5,451 165
1978 4,517 159
1977 3,507 83
1976 3,309 63
1975 2,832 89
1974 2,600 94

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.

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!

"Kyle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kyle-meaning-and-history/.

"Kyle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kyle-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 December, 2024

Kyle first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kyle-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.