Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Kayleigh?

68 replies

Moonbaby92 · 06/12/2020 00:54

I've always had a soft spot for this name..what do you think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SionnachRua · 06/12/2020 19:26

I think it's alright but I do prefer Hayley.

Chickenwing · 06/12/2020 19:12

I think it's lovely and it's definitely more rare now.

scentedgeranium · 06/12/2020 17:56

Probs already been said, but what about Callie (rhymes with alley)? I like that

MikeUniformMike · 06/12/2020 17:54

You could spell it Caley.

Cookalia · 06/12/2020 17:50

Like most others, too 80s/early 90s.

Kathryn/Katherine or Kathleen nn Kay, if it is the Kay sound you like

Hailey/Hayley feels slightly less dated
Otherwise something like Layla (?)

CosyQueen · 06/12/2020 17:33

Think it’s very dated, it makes me imagine a mean teenager in the 80’s

MerchantOfVenom · 06/12/2020 17:27

@sofiaaaaaa

I don’t think it’s that dated is it? I’m in my 20s and know a decent amount of people call Kayleigh who are the same age. It’s fairly commonplace.
That’s why it sounds dated, it’s associated with a particular era.

No-one’s calling their baby Kayleigh now.

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 06/12/2020 12:09

Well I loved Car Share so I like Kayleigh!

user1493494961 · 06/12/2020 11:56

Awful.

silkiecat · 06/12/2020 11:55

I like the name but quite associated with 70s/80s and think of the song but like the song. A relative named his two kids Kayleigh and Hayleigh in the 1980s!

Madbengalmum · 06/12/2020 11:53

No really dislike, sorry op.

WiseOwlWan · 06/12/2020 11:48

Or Kali as in The Goddess

StylishMummy · 06/12/2020 11:46

I'd try Caleigh - it looks softer to me

WiseOwlWan · 06/12/2020 11:45

Great minds!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/12/2020 11:43

Missed @WiseOwlWan 's first post - snap!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 06/12/2020 11:41

Too 80's / early 90's sounding as a given name for me. But you could use a classic first name/ middle name combination like Katherine Leah and still call her Kayleigh - that would be pretty (and gives her lots of other options if she dislikes it when older).

IVflytrap · 06/12/2020 11:36

I really like Kayleigh, even though I associate it with the 80s, and there were 3 in my class at school. I always thought it was made up for that Marillion song, but maybe that's not the case? Kay is a very nice shortening.

I have a soft spot for 80s K names, anyway. I also like Kerry, Keeley and Keelin (I'm aware they're anglicised versions of Irish names, still think they're nice.)

WiseOwlWan · 06/12/2020 09:48

I think what has made the name seem a little lack luster is the leigh tagged on to the end of it.

If you spelled it Caolaidhe then it would look less Anglicised/Americanized .

WiseOwlWan · 06/12/2020 09:42

aGREE,very 80s.

I like the sound of it though. what about Katherine Leigh with nn Kay Leigh of just Kay.

jellybellydancers · 06/12/2020 09:39

I have taught a couple in recent years but spelled Kaylee. Not a huge fan personally but it's ok.

Nell96 · 06/12/2020 08:31

Sounds very 80s. I quite like Kay though.

zigaziga · 06/12/2020 08:30

@sofiaaaaaa

I don’t think it’s that dated is it? I’m in my 20s and know a decent amount of people call Kayleigh who are the same age. It’s fairly commonplace.
Unfortunately Dark Greener doesn’t go back later than the mid 90s and you’d suspect Kayleigh to have peaked in the mid 80s but that’s a very sharp decline!! If you know a few Kayleighs in their 20s I guess they’ll be from the first few years of this table, when Kayleigh was in the Top 50-100 names. It’s now 980th.

I don’t see anything wrong in naming a child an unusual name at all it’s just this is a very unusual name that was very popular 25-40 years a go so it’s a bit different.

Kayleigh?
sofiaaaaaa · 06/12/2020 08:09

I don’t think it’s that dated is it? I’m in my 20s and know a decent amount of people call Kayleigh who are the same age. It’s fairly commonplace.

KatherineJaneway · 06/12/2020 07:50

I like it.

CoffeeSTAT · 06/12/2020 07:48

I know a nice Kayleigh! I must admit it wasn't to my taste when I heard it at first but it's grown on me as she is so sweet and her nickname is Kayls which I like.

Caley I would want to pronounce kah-ley not kay-lay