Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Short form of Caitlin
"pure"
Cait, pronounced like more popular sister Kate, is the form used when shortening Caitlin or any of the other Irish and Gaelic Cait-starting variations of Catherine.
Irish variation of Catherine
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…
Gaelic variation of Catherine
Both Caitriona and Catriona are commonly heard in Scotland and Ireland. The name was brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans, and is the source of nicknames Cait, Caitin, Caitlin and Triona. Actress…
Latin
"white, pure, sincere"
Candace, an ancient title of a dynasty of Ethiopian queens mentioned in the New Testament, is associated both with actress Candice Bergen and Sex and the City writer Candace Bushnell. Both spellings…
Spelling variation of Karen, Danish variation of Katherine
Modernized spelling not enough to revive Karen.
Diminutive of Catherine, Greek
May be the most modern, stylish Catherine nickname: more unusual than Kate or Cate, with an animal and word name edge. Cat Power is a trendy folksinger.
English diminutive of Catherine
Time was, even C-starting Catherines who called themselves Kate spelled it with a K, but Cate Blanchett changed all. Cate is now as acceptable as (but not as well used as) Kate. Cait might be short…
English diminutive of Catherine, Greek
One of the most popular nicknames of the fifties and sixties — and who could forget the romantic heroine of "Wuthering Heights"? — now largely ignored in favor of Cate or Kate.
Scottish form of Katherine, Greek
This Katherine variation, used through Ireland and Scotland, is pronounced like Katrina. The name became popular after the Crusaders brought home stories about the colorful fourth century martyr,…
Greek
"glorious flower"
A Latinized form of Kleanthes, this name is best associated with literary and poetry critic, Cleanth Brooks.
Italian
A name that relates to Concepcion and the Virgin Mary, but feels a good deal more secular.
Slavic diminutive of Ekaterina
"pure, unsullied"
This short form is used by supermodel Ekat Kiseleva.
Russian; Macedonian; Bulgarian, variation of Catherine
This international variation was publicized by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva.
Welsh
"riverbank, shore; pure"
Glenys, like Glynis, is a Welsh name that has never caught on outside Wales.
This Old Welsh name associated with blacksmiths has never caught on, but it has the right two-syllable occupational feel to qualify for revival. Gower Champion was a successful midcentury dancer,…
Turkish
Turkish word name commonly seen in the doubled-barreled first name Ömer Halis.
