Fun Facts About the Name Caili
- 81 babies named Caili: U.S. records list 81 babies given the name Caili from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Caili Mean?
Caili is a Mandarin Chinese given name when written in Hanyu Pinyin. Pinyin records sounds rather than a fixed meaning, so the sense depends on the characters chosen. A common written form is 彩丽 (cǎi lì), from 彩 "color, colorful" and 丽 "beautiful"; it is often translated "colorful and beautiful." Other character combinations, such as 彩莉 with 莉 "jasmine," produce the same pinyin but a different meaning.
In English-speaking countries, Caili is also used as a modern phonetic spelling of Kaylee or Cailey. That English name has no single agreed etymology; it is often explained as a combination of Kay and Lee or as a variant of similar -lee names. The spelling Caili does not give the English name a separate meaning.
Caili Name History & Origins
Chinese given names are usually composed individually at birth, so Caili has no single founding figure or fixed literary source. The pinyin spelling reflects the Hanyu Pinyin system, introduced in mainland China in 1958 and later adopted as an international standard for Mandarin. Earlier English romanizations, such as Wade-Giles, could render the same syllables differently, for example Ts'ai-li.
The English use of Caili belongs to the modern fashion for -lee spellings of feminine names. It is a respelling rather than a traditional name with its own ancient history, and its meaning remains uncertain.
How Popular is the Name Caili?
Caili has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1992. Its best rank was #8,166 in 1992.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #15,748 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,029 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #14,495 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #14,166 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #12,432 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #11,576 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #11,324 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #12,001 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #10,780 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #8,166 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #13,456 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #11,614 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with C
Short Girl Names That Start with C
How the Name Caili Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Caili's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Caili's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.