Caitlin
Caitlin is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Caitlin is an Anglicized spelling of the Irish name Caitlín, which itself derives from the Old French Cateline and Latin Katherine. It surged in popularity in the United States during the late 20th century before declining in recent years. Etymologically, it is most commonly understood to mean pure.
Popularity in the United States
112,143 babies in the United States have been named Caitlin since 1880. It ranks #343 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1543.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.7 %)
- NY (8.3 %)
- TX (5.7 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- MA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 46 |
| 1960-1970 | 410 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,277 |
| 1980-1990 | 33,584 |
| 1990-2000 | 49,033 |
| 2000-2010 | 22,298 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,935 |
| 2020-2029 | 560 |
Famous people named Caitlin
- Caitlin Moran: Journalist, Author
- Caitlin Thomas: Author
Nicknames
Cate, Cait, Caity, Katie
Fun facts
- Caitlin introduced the traditional Irish Caitlín into mainstream American naming culture, spawning many spelling variations.
- The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s.