Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, or Katelynn

Popular Irish Baby Name Related to the Names Katherine and Kathleen

Feb 9, 2009 Jennifer White

Kaitlyn has become a very popular baby girl name in recent years. Expectant parents might want to consider its derivation, spelling, and popularity before selecting it.

The baby name Kaitlyn has a very sweet appeal that has attracted many a name-searching parent. Its clean sound, Irish connection, and nicknames Kate and Katie may appeal to many. Though Kaitlyn is a name relatively recent in popularity, it is based on a name with very rich roots throughout history.

Derivation and Meaning

Paging through the baby name history books reveals that today's name Kaitlyn stems from a much older Irish name, Caitlín (KAHT-leen). Caitlín, also seen spelled as Cateline, is a variant on an Old French version of Katherine.

Though the etymology of the name Katherine is itself up for debate, the commonly accepted meaning of Caitlín is "pure." This meaning is tied to the early Christian Greek name, καθαρος (katharos). The name pays homage to Saint Katherine of Alexandria, a woman who converted to Christianity in the fourth century and became a noted Christian martyr.

Pronunciation

As the spelling has changed over the centuries, so too has Kaitlyn's pronunciation. Its original Irish pronunciation (KAHT-leen) is reminder of its related variant, Kathleen. The widely accepted modern pronunciation has morphed into the familiar KAYT-lin.

Alternative Spellings

In 2007 the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) Top 1000 Baby Names Index recorded 8 different alternative spellings of Kaitlyn. In order of popularity, the variants included Kaitlyn (35.1%), Katelyn (26.8%), Caitlyn (10.2%), Caitlin (9.6%), Katelynn (7.6%), Kaitlin (4.9%), Kaitlynn (4.1%), and Katlyn (1.7%).

Current Popularity

A glance at compiled baby name popularity lists can be a bit deceiving considering that Kaitlyn has so many variant spellings. The most recent SSA listing (2007) shows the first appearance of one of the many spellings of Kaitlyn at the 44th position on the charts. This may lead parents to believe that the name is not overly popular.

However, when looking at name lists that compile popularity based on pronunciation rather that spelling, Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, Katelynn, Kaitlin, Kaitlynn, and Katlyn unite to make a huge leap on the charts. The octuplet manage to just crack into the top 10 baby girl names for 2007. The combined spellings accounted for 15,649 baby girls born in the United States. This means roughly one out of every 1,250 baby girls born in the United States in 2007 bared one of the Kaitlyn variant spellings.

Popularity Over Time

Taking a step back to look at the broader picture of the popularity of the name over time reveals some interesting points that may have some parents wondering if it is the right name for their baby girl. Though the SSA has name popularity documentation dating back to 1880, the first appearance of a Kaitlyn variant appears in 1976. It made its appearance under the original Irish Spelling Caitlin, barely having cracking into the top 1,000.

Variants of the spelling did not start climbing the charts until 5 years later. By the late 80's the pack of Kaitlyn's managed to crack into the top 100 names, reaching its height of popularity between 1999 and 2000. Since that time, the name has begun to drift back down the charts. It still remains one of the more popular baby girl names, but if trends continue, it can be expected that the name will fall out of the top 100 within the next 10 years.

Destined to be a "Dated" Name?

A concern parents may have for the name is its potential to eventually feel dated. Names that have followed similar popularity patterns include Doris, Cheryl, Phyllis, Hazel, and Lisa. These names are now generally associated with women born in a particular decade. Though Kaitlyn may currently feel like a youthful name, it may well be considered "the Old Lady" name in another 50 years.

Time will only tell if Kaitlyn has the staying power to become a timeless name. Regardless, it is a name with a notable history and beloved Irish roots. Despite its popularity, it makes the perfect name for many a child.

Resources:

• Behind the Name
• Social Security Administration Baby Name Index
• Name Ranking By Pronunciation

The copyright of the article Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, or Katelynn in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Jennifer White. Permission to republish Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Caitlin, or Katelynn in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Saint Katherine, Inspiration for the Name Kaitlyn