This was the city of Kyle’s fifth attempt to break the Guinness World Record for largest same-name gathering. Last year, 1,490 Kyles showed up.
KYLE, Texas — For the fifth year in a row, the city of Kyle tried to break the record for most Kyle’s gathered in one place.
This time around, the city was hoping to top last year’s gathering, in which 1,490 Kyles gathered- the largest turnout yet.
This year? It wasn’t quite a record-breaking performance, as just over 700 Kyles gathered. Regardless, it was still a spectacle for many.
“It was really funny because when you’re in a crowd and somebody yells ‘Kyle’, like 15 people all turn around,” said a Kyle.
Kyles traveled from all around the country for this year’s gathering this year. In total, 706 Kyles were counted. To be counted, Kyles had to show identification that their first name was spelled exactly “Kyle” with no variations.
In 2017, “Ivans” broke the Guinness World Record for the largest same-name, first-name only gathering when 2,325 Ivans gathered in Kupreski Kosci in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Some of the Kyles who showed up Saturday had a stereotype in their head about what a Kyle is like.
“Absolute rage machines just going around destroying, vandalizing everything,” a Kyle said. “Drywall punchers. Just rage machines.”
But as they met hundreds of other Kyles all from different backgrounds and with different life experiences, they learned there’s much more to the name.
“There’s a whole different world of Kyle that I didn’t know existed,” a Kyle said. “Different races and genders, I’ve never met a female Kyle before and it’s so cool,” another Kyle said.
So even though they didn’t take home a win, it showed many they weren’t alone.
“I feel like we’re all as one, like all the Kyles are one,” a Kyle said. “Even though we had different personalities, I feel like we were all connected somehow.”
“It’s good to know there’s more Kyles out there,” said another Kyle.