Pronunciation
Kay-lee
Meaning
Irish social gathering and dancing
Céilí is a creative Irish word choice, rather than a traditional given name. It sounds like Kayleigh, but the names have different origins.
Fun fact
Céilí isn’t a traditional Irish given name, it’s a traditional Irish dance gathering! The word is connected with the Old Irish céle (KAY-leh), meaning ‘companion’ or ‘neighbour’. Historically, a céilí was a friendly visit or an evening of stories and songs, as well as dancing. It’s pronounced exactly like Kayleigh, but they are entirely different names.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Céilí, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2024 | 3 | #898 |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2021 | 3 | #883 |
| 2020 | 3 | #834 |
| 2019 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2018 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2017 | 4 | #734 |
| 2016 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2015 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2012 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2011 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2010 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2009 | 3 | #893 |
| 2008 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2007 | 4 | #705 |
| 2006 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2005 | 4 | #587 |
| 2004 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2003 | 4 | #559 |
| 2002 | 3 | #620 |
| 2001 | 3 | #606 |
| 2000 | 3 | #536 |
| 1999 | 3 | #528 |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | 3 | #576 |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | 3 | #516 |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.