Caitlin

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Caitlín

Gender: Feminine
Language: Irish Gaelic
Etymology:
Caitlín is the Irish Gaelic form of Cateline, the Old French form of Katherine. Katherine is a blend of the (possibly) Coptic name Aikaterina and the Greek word “katharos” (pure). Possibly connected with the Greek word “aikia” (torture) or the goddess of the underworld named Hecate.

History:
Caitlín (or Caitilín) comes from the Old French name Cateline, another form of Catherine, the French form of Katherine. Catelline was imported to Ireland with the Norman lords of the early Middle Ages (about the 13th century).
It is currently (in many forms) very popular.

Kathleen is an older, Anglicized form of Caitlín. Originally, Caitlín was pronounced “cat-leen.”

Please see Katherine for additional information.

Pronunciation: cat-leen (older), kate-lyn (modern).

Alternates: Caitlin, Caitlinn, Caitlyn, Caitlynd, Cateline, Catelyn, Caitlan, Caitland, Caitlynn, Catlin, Catline, Catlyn, Cathleen, Kaitlen, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlynn, Katelin, Katelyn, Katelynn, Kathaleen, Katheleen, Kathlen, Kathlene, Kathline, Kathlyn, Katlin, Katlielyn, Katlyn, Katlynn, Kaytlin, Kaytlyn
Anglicized: Kathleen.

See also: Caitlyn, Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kathleen.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.424 % named Kathleen
0.023 % named Caitlin
0.017 % named Cathleen
0.010 % named Katelyn
0.004 % named Caitlyn
0.003 % named Kathlene
0.003 % named Kathlyn
0.002 % named Kathaleen
0.002 % named Katlyn
0.001 % named Katelynn
0.001 % named Katelin
0.001 % named Katheleen
0.001 % named Kathline

Popularity of Caitlin:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 926th most popular.
1980-1990: 90th most popular.
1990: 50th most popular.
1991: 54th most popular.
1992: 62nd most popular.
1993: 65th most popular.
1994: 78th most popular.
1995: 81st most popular.
1996: 83rd most popular.
1997: 87th most popular.
1998: 76th most popular.
1999: 93rd most popular.
2000: 75th most popular.
2001: 90th most popular.
2002: 123rd most popular.
2003: 145th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 54th most popular.
1999: 41st most popular.
2000: 40th most popular.
2001: 34th most popular.
2002: 38th most popular.
2003: 31st most popular.

Popularity of Kaitlin:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 227th most popular.
1990: 102nd most popular.
1991: 103rd most popular.
1992: 117th most popular.
1993: 104th most popular.
1994: 95th most popular.
1995: 95th most popular.
1996: 107th most popular.
1997: 122nd most popular.
1998: 120th most popular.
1999: 157th most popular.
2000: 160th most popular.
2001: 183rd most popular.
2002: 222nd most popular.
2003: 264th most popular.

Popularity of Katelin:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 942nd most popular.
1990: 604th most popular.
1991: 603rd most popular.
1992: 659th most popular.
1993: 560th most popular.
1994: 598th most popular.
1995: 561st most popular.
1996: 556th most popular.
1997: 586th most popular.
1998: 595th most popular.
1999: 602nd most popular.
2000: 613th most popular.
2001: 672nd most popular.
2002: 757th most popular.
2003: 895th most popular.