Kylie

Kylie is an English feminine given name with multiple origins. It is most famously associated with Australia, where it is said to derive from the Noongar Aboriginal word kiley, meaning boomerang. An early bearer was Australian author Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), and the name was among the top five most popular girls' names in Australia in the 1970s and early 1980s. It may also be considered a feminine variant of Kyle, or a combination of the popular sound elements ky and lee, which likely contributed to its adoption in America from the late 1970s onward.

Etymology and Origin

The name's etymology is debated. Besides the Aboriginal Australian origin, it might derive from the Irish surname O'Kiely, itself from Old Gaelic O'Cadhla meaning "graceful" or "beautiful.” Public records show the given name Kylie was in use in Australia at least as far back as 1877. According to a 1947 survey, Australian parents were generally reluctant to use Aboriginal words for children's names, but Kylie was cited as one of the few exceptions to this.

Modern Popularity and Associations

The name gained wide international recognition through Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue (born 1968). Other variants include Kiley, Kylee, Kyleigh, and Kilie.

• Meaning: Boomerang (Noongar); graceful (Irish Gaelic)
• Origin: Australian Aboriginal (Nyungar); also possibly Irish
• Type: Given name (feminine)
• Usage regions: Australia, English-speaking world