Caitlyn

Girl Name #2,348 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

The Irish classic that dominated the 1990s

Irish Welsh American British

Classic Modern Gentle Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"pure, unblemished"

Origin: Greek via Irish

Language: English

"clear, bright"

Origin: Greek Katharos

Language: Greek

Things to Know About This Name

Strongly associated with Caitlyn Jenner since her public transition in 2015 — some parents may see this as positive representation, others may want to be aware of the association

The Story of Caitlyn

Caitlyn is a modern anglicized spelling variant of Caitlín, the Irish form of Kathleen, which itself derives from the Latin Catharina and ultimately from the Greek 'Aikaterine.' The meaning 'pure' comes from a folk etymology connecting it to Greek 'katharos' (pure), though the actual origin is debated. The -lyn suffix form gained popularity in the 1980s-90s American baby name boom, when parents sought fresh spellings of traditional Irish names.

Caitlyn and its many variants (Kaitlyn, Caitlin, Kaitlin) were massively popular in the US from the 1980s through the 2000s, frequently ranking in the top 100 girls' names. The name has declined since 2015, partly due to the high-profile transition of Caitlyn Jenner, and partly due to generational saturation.

In Irish culture, Caitlín is a name with centuries of use, deeply tied to Irish identity. The traditional Irish poem 'Caitlín Ní Uallacháin' (Cathleen Ni Houlihan) personified Ireland as a woman named Caitlín — later dramatized by W.B. Yeats. This gives the name a quietly nationalistic resonance in Irish literary tradition.

Fun Facts

The Irish poem 'Caitlín Ní Uallacháin' used Caitlín as a symbol for Ireland herself — W.B. Yeats turned it into a famous 1902 play
Caitlyn Jenner's 2015 Vanity Fair cover was the most liked tweet in Twitter history at the time it was posted

Caitlyn in Other Languages

Irish Caitlín

Welsh Catrin

French Catherine

Italian Caterina

Spanish Catalina

Famous People Named Caitlyn

Caitlyn Jenner

Athlete

American Olympic gold medalist (decathlon, 1976) and transgender rights activist who publicly transitioned in 2015

Caitlin Moran

Writer

British author and journalist, known for 'How to Be a Woman' and music writing for The Times

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #2,348
Total SSA Count: 78
Cultural Origins: Irish Welsh American British
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Caitlin #1686

Common Nicknames

Cait Kate Katie Cay

Pairs Well With

Caitlyn Grace Caitlyn Rose Caitlyn Marie Caitlyn Lynn Caitlyn Anne Caitlyn Jane Caitlyn Elise

Sibling Names

Brendan Declan Siobhan Aoife Niamh Conor Fiona Liam

Also a Boy Name

Caitlyn is also used as a boy name, ranked #7371.

View Caitlyn as a boy name →

Similar Names

Kathryn Kathlyn Jacklyn Kaylynn Kaylyn Kaylin Caitlin Kaelyn

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Caitlyn

What does the name Caitlyn mean?

"pure, unblemished" (from Greek via Irish). "clear, bright" (from Greek Katharos). Caitlyn is a modern anglicized spelling variant of Caitlín, the Irish form of Kathleen, which itself derives from the Latin Catharina and ultimately from the Greek 'Aikaterine.' The meaning 'pure' comes from a folk etymology connecting it to Greek 'katharos' (pure), though the actual origin is debated. The -lyn suffix form gained popularity in the 1980s-90s American baby name boom, when parents sought fresh spellings of traditional Irish names.

What is the origin of the name Caitlyn?

Caitlyn has Greek via Irish, Greek Katharos, Irish, Welsh, American, and British origins. In Greek via Irish, it means "pure, unblemished". In Greek Katharos, it means "clear, bright".

Is Caitlyn a boy or girl name?

Caitlyn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2348. As a boy name, it is ranked #7371. Caitlyn is more commonly used as a girl name.

How popular is the name Caitlyn?

Caitlyn is currently ranked #2348 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Caitlyn?

Common nicknames for Caitlyn include Cait, Kate, Katie, and Cay.

What are good middle names for Caitlyn?

Popular middle name pairings include Caitlyn Grace, Caitlyn Rose, Caitlyn Marie, Caitlyn Lynn, Caitlyn Anne, Caitlyn Jane, and Caitlyn Elise.

What are good sibling names for Caitlyn?

Names that pair well with Caitlyn as siblings include Brendan, Declan, Siobhan, Aoife, Niamh, Conor, Fiona, and Liam.

How many syllables does Caitlyn have?

Caitlyn has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Caitlyn a common or rare name?

Caitlyn is an uncommon name, ranked #2348 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Caitlyn

Caitlyn is a girl name with Irish, Welsh, American, and British origins . The name means "pure, unblemished" in Greek via Irish .

Is Caitlyn a boy or girl name? Caitlyn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,348 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #7,371. Caitlyn is more commonly used as a girl name.

Caitlyn is currently ranked #2,348 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Caitlyn has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Caitlyn include Cait, Kate, Katie, and Cay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Caitlyn include Caitlin . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.