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Kayleigh

Girl name · 3,936 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kayleigh: 3,936 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 230 births in 1992.

Originally a modern respelling of the Scottish Gaelic name Ceilidh, Kayleigh means "slender" and emerged in the 1970s as a distinctive alternative. It was propelled into widespread popularity by the 1984 hit "Kayleigh" by the British rock band Marillion, written about a former girlfriend of the lead singer, which made the name a nostalgic favourite. While not directly a place name, the root word ceilidh refers to a traditional social gathering with music and dancing, echoing a rich strand of Scottish culture. Variants such as Kaleigh, Kaylee, and Cayleigh are common, but the 'leigh' ending gives this spelling a particularly lyrical, feminine quality that has kept it a beloved choice in Scotland for decades.