Caitlin Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KATE-lin //ˈkeɪt.lɪn//
Origin: Irish; Latin
Meaning: Irish: pure; Latin: from the city of Caitlin
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Caitlin is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic form Caitlín, which is a diminutive of the name Catherine. The etymology can be traced back to the Greek name Aikaterine, which is believed to have roots in the Greek word "katharos," meaning "pure." This name was adopted into Latin as Catharina and subsequently made its way into Old French as Catherine, before evolving into various forms in different languages, including Caitlin in Irish.
The transition into English occurred through the influence of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many French names into the English-speaking world, leading to the adoption of Caitlin as a variant of Catherine in the English language during the Middle Ages. Historically, the name Catherine has been borne by numerous notable figures, including Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, whose feast day is celebrated on November 25.
The name gained further prominence through the royal connections of various queens and princesses, such as Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII of England in the 16th century, and Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia in the 18th century. These historical milestones contributed to the name's enduring legacy and cultural significance across Europe.
Caitlin, as a derivative, became particularly popular in Ireland and among Irish communities, symbolizing a connection to heritage and tradition. The name is often associated with qualities of beauty and purity, reflecting its etymological roots.
Additionally, the name has been embraced in various forms across cultures, with Caitlin being one of the more recognized variants in English-speaking countries. The name's historical associations and cultural resonance have allowed it to maintain a lasting presence in literature and society.
Famous people named Caitlin
In this section, you will find notable people named Caitlin. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Caitlin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Caitlin who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Caitlin Stasey is an actress best known for Neighbours, The Sleepover Club, and Please Like Me.
Caitlin O'Ryan is an actress best known for The Other Two, The Good Fight, and The Deuce.
Caitlin Hale is an actress best known for School of Rock and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Caitlin Thompson is an actress best known for This Is Us, The Goldbergs, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Fictional characters named Caitlin
The following list of fictional characters named Caitlin is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Caitlin Fairchild is a fictional character from the comic book series Gen13. She is a member of the superpowered team known as Gen13, possessing enhanced strength and agility.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Caitlin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Caitlin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Caitlin was first seen in the United States in 1955.
Caitlin has ranked as high as #101 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
In the past 5 years the name Caitlin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Caitlin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Caitlin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Caitlin.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | 0 | 78 |
| 2024 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 2023 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 2022 | 86 | 0 | 86 |
| 2021 | 85 | 0 | 85 |
| 2020 | 110 | 0 | 110 |
| 2019 | 142 | 0 | 142 |
| 2018 | 166 | 0 | 166 |
| 2017 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 2016 | 218 | 0 | 218 |
| 2015 | 477 | 0 | 477 |
| 2014 | 628 | 0 | 628 |
| 2013 | 654 | 0 | 654 |
| 2012 | 741 | 0 | 741 |
| 2011 | 803 | 0 | 803 |
| 2010 | 945 | 0 | 945 |
| 2009 | 1,216 | 0 | 1,216 |
| 2008 | 1,459 | 0 | 1,459 |
| 2007 | 1,530 | 0 | 1,530 |
| 2006 | 1,653 | 0 | 1,653 |
| 2005 | 1,778 | 0 | 1,778 |
| 2004 | 2,062 | 12 | 2,050 |
| 2003 | 2,311 | 0 | 2,311 |
| 2002 | 2,743 | 0 | 2,743 |
| 2001 | 3,456 | 0 | 3,456 |
| 2000 | 4,107 | 5 | 4,102 |
| 1999 | 3,467 | 6 | 3,461 |
| 1998 | 4,181 | 6 | 4,175 |
| 1997 | 3,869 | 7 | 3,862 |
| 1996 | 4,276 | 8 | 4,268 |
| 1995 | 4,397 | 13 | 4,384 |
| 1994 | 4,660 | 6 | 4,654 |
| 1993 | 5,433 | 5 | 5,428 |
| 1992 | 5,403 | 12 | 5,391 |
| 1991 | 6,396 | 12 | 6,384 |
| 1990 | 7,046 | 20 | 7,026 |
| 1989 | 7,069 | 44 | 7,025 |
| 1988 | 7,274 | 28 | 7,246 |
| 1987 | 5,015 | 26 | 4,989 |
| 1986 | 3,897 | 16 | 3,881 |
| 1985 | 3,607 | 14 | 3,593 |
| 1984 | 2,364 | 21 | 2,343 |
| 1983 | 1,893 | 8 | 1,885 |
| 1982 | 1,200 | 8 | 1,192 |
| 1981 | 790 | 6 | 784 |
| 1980 | 646 | 0 | 646 |
| 1979 | 254 | 0 | 254 |
| 1978 | 222 | 0 | 222 |
| 1977 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 1976 | 133 | 0 | 133 |
| 1975 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1974 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 1973 | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| 1972 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1971 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1970 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| 1969 | 93 | 0 | 93 |
| 1968 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1967 | 61 | 0 | 61 |
| 1966 | 51 | 0 | 51 |
| 1965 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1964 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1963 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1962 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1961 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1960 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1959 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1958 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1957 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1956 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1955 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Caitlin (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 17 | |
| NY | 9 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| NJ | 6 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| IA | 6 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| TN | 5 | |
| VA | 5 |