HomeBaby Names DirectoryKylie

Kylie

♀ Girl

Pronounced KY-lee /ˈkaɪ.li/High

Meaning: Boomerang; from an Aboriginal Australian Noongar word kylie or giley meaning curved throwing stickMedium

In 30 seconds: A breezy two-syllable name with debated origins — possibly an Australian Aboriginal word for a boomerang, or a feminine form of Kyle. Best known globally through pop singer Kylie Minogue.
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Origin MediumAustralian Aboriginal, Gaelic
MeaningBoomerang; from an Aboriginal Australian Noongar word kylie or giley meaning curved throwing stick
Peak year2003
Total births (all-time)≈ 107,229

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200319602017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kylie has two proposed origins. The most cited is the Noongar (Western Australian Aboriginal) word kylie or giley, referring to a type of boomerang. Alternatively, it may be a feminine form of Kyle, a Scottish/Irish name from Gaelic caol ('narrow strait'). The name first appeared in Australia in the mid-20th century.

Kylie became a top name in Australia in the late 1970s and 1980s, significantly boosted by pop singer Kylie Minogue. In the United States it gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. More recently, Kylie Jenner (b. 1997) has given the name renewed visibility for a new generation.

Did you know? Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, who rose to fame in 1987, is so associated with the name in Australia and the UK that she is known simply as 'Kylie' — no last name needed.

Variations

KileeKyleeKiley

Nicknames

Ky

Famous Bearers

  • Kylie Minogue (b. 1968)
    Australian pop icon and actress, known for hits like 'Locomotion' and 'Can't Get You Out of My Head.'
  • Kylie Jenner (b. 1997)
    American media personality, model, and beauty entrepreneur.

If you like Kylie…

Riley— two-syllable girl's name with the same cheerful -ee ending
Hailey— rhyming two-syllable -ley name with parallel popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kylie mean?

Kylie's meaning is debated. It may come from an Aboriginal Australian word for a boomerang, or it may be a feminine form of Kyle, meaning 'narrow strait.'

How do you pronounce Kylie?

Kylie is pronounced KY-lee (/ˈkaɪ.li/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Kylie a boy or girl name?

Kylie is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Kylie?

Kylie has been a top-100 U.S. girls' name since the 1990s, boosted by both Kylie Minogue and Kylie Jenner.