Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Kyle
BoyScottish· “narrow strait”
- Meaning
- narrow strait
- Origin
- Scottish
- Pronunciation
- KYL
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #509
- US babies 2025
- 594
- Best rank
- #18 (1990)
- Peak year
- 1990
Meaning and origin of Kyle
Kyle is a Scottish name that means “narrow strait”.
Kyle comes from the Scottish Gaelic caol, meaning "narrow" or "a narrow strait", a word found in many Scottish place names such as the Kyle of Lochalsh. Kyle is also the name of a historic district in Ayrshire in southwestern Scotland, and it became a surname before becoming a first name. It became widely used in the United States and Britain in the later twentieth century. Kyle is short, strong and easy to pronounce, with a friendly, athletic image. It has no obvious nickname because it is already compact, and it combines well with longer middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kile.
Popularity over time
Kyle first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 128 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #18 in 1990, the same year it reached its highest count of 22,710 babies. In 2025, 594 babies were named Kyle, and it ranked #509 nationally. That is 75% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #702 in 1920, #431 in 1950, #57 in 1980, #37 in 2000, #107 in 2010, and #509 in 2025. Of the 485,780 US boys named Kyle since records began, 37% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 141,947 babies. Since 2010, 28,974 more have been named Kyle.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Anthony, Jordan, Benjamin, Aaron, and Sean.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kyle ranked highest in New York, Ohio, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #294 | 64 |
| Ohio | #404 | 27 |
| Connecticut | #420 | 7 |
| Indiana | #422 | 17 |
| Arkansas | #424 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Kyle over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Kyle is usually pronounced KYL, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with K and ends in “-le”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kile.
Middle names for Kyle
A few middle names that flow with Kyle: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kyle
Similar names
Cole Boy
KOHL
“from an English surname” · English
#182
Clyde Boy
KLYD
“from the River Clyde” · Scottish
#743
Nile Boy
NYL
“from the river Nile” · Greek
#1,848
Grant Boy
GRANT
“large, tall” · Scottish
#228
Reid Boy
REED
“red, red-haired” · Scottish
#293
Troy Boy
TROY
“from the ancient city of Troy” · Greek
#533
Scott Boy
SKAHT
“a Scot, a Gaelic speaker” · Scottish
#534
Cale Boy
KAYL
“short for Caleb; also a surname” · English
#2,722
Dallas Unisex
DAL-uhs
“from the Scottish place Dallas” · Scottish
#238
Knox Boy
NAHKS
“round hill” · Scottish
#196
Lennox Unisex
LEH-nuhks
“place of elms” · Scottish
#289
Keith Boy
KEETH
“from a Scottish place name” · Scottish
#801
Lists that include Kyle
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kyle mean?
Kyle is a Scottish name that means “narrow strait”.
What is the origin of the name Kyle?
Kyle has Scottish roots. Kyle comes from the Scottish Gaelic caol, meaning "narrow" or "a narrow strait", a word found in many Scottish place names such as the Kyle of Lochalsh.
Is Kyle a popular name?
Yes. Kyle ranked #509 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Kyle a boy or girl name?
Kyle is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Kyle over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Kyle?
Kyle is usually pronounced KYL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings