Caitlin

Irish variation of Catherine

"pure"

Caitlin Origin and Meaning

The name Caitlin is girl's name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity in the space of a decade. The original name was gradually eclipsed by its myriad spelling variations -- Katelyn and Kaitlyn both soon topping it on the popularity lists.

Now, most forms of Caitlin, including this most-authentic one, have started to dip, though there have been thousands of girls named Caitlin -- and Katelyn and Kaitlyn ad infinitum -- every year for the past three decades. So, while Caitlin is certainly one of the loveliest variations of Catherine, it's been overused to the point of semi-retirement, at least in the U.S. Cait might be a short form.

Actor Breckin Meyer named his daughter Caitlin in 2003. Caitlyn Jenner also brought a renewed fame to the name, though she uses the -lyn variation.

Caitlin Popularity

• 609 US 2015
• 790 Nameberry 2023
• 798 Unique 2020
• 530 England 2021
• 89 Scotland 2015
• 91 Ireland 2014
• 98 Australia 2014
• 96 New Zealand 2014
• 450 Germany 2016