WeeNames Scotland’s favourite name finder

← All names

Cailey

Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cailey: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2004.

Of Irish and Gaelic origin, Cailey is a modern variant of Céilí, which itself derives from the Old Irish *céle*, meaning "companion" or "neighbour"—a cosy, sociable name at heart. It is also sometimes used as an Anglicised spelling of the surname Cailean, a Gaelic form of Colin meaning "young pup" or "whelp". While not widely borne by historical figures, the name's most famous association is with actress Cailey Fleming, known for her roles in *The Walking Dead* and the *Star Wars* sequel trilogy. Place connections are scarce, but the phonetic similarity to "ceili"—a traditional Scottish and Irish social gathering with music and dance—gives it a lively, communal feel. A notable variant is Kayley, which shares similar roots and cheerful overtones.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
20043 babies
Latest (2006)
#7223 babies
Total births
6since 2004
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2004 · 3
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).