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Keileigh

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Keileigh: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1986.

Keileigh is a modern, creative respelling of the classic Kayleigh, which itself originated as a phonetic variant of the Irish name Caileigh, derived from the Gaelic word *céile*, meaning “companion” or “slender.” Though the spelling Keileigh is a distinctly 20th-century invention, it shares its roots with the more traditional Kaylee or Kayley. The name was famously popularised in the 1980s by the British rock band Marillion’s hit song “Kayleigh,” written about a former girlfriend of the lead singer. While no major historical figures bear this exact spelling, the name’s phonetic cousins have been worn by actress Kayley Cuoco and singer Kayleigh McEnany. A notable place connection is the village of Céile in County Kerry, Ireland, though it is rarely linked directly. This spelling variation was particularly fashionable in Scotland during the 1990s and 2000s, reflecting a broader trend for unique, phonetic name forms.