Kaitlyn Girl

Popularity: #618 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAYT-lin //ˈkeɪt.lɪn//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: pure; English: variant of Caitlin

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Kaitlyn is derived from the Irish name Caitlín, which is a diminutive form of the name Catherine. The etymology of Catherine 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 Catheline, before evolving into various forms in English, including Caitlin and Kaitlyn.

The transition into English occurred during the Middle Ages, as the name became popular among the Irish and later spread to English-speaking countries. Historically, the name Catherine has been borne by numerous saints, including Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, who is often associated with wisdom and learning.

The name gained further prominence through the influence of various royal figures, such as Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century. The name's enduring appeal was reinforced by its appearance in significant literary works and translations, including the King James Bible, which contributed to the broader cultural resonance of names derived from Catherine.

Caitlín and its variants have been associated with qualities such as purity and nobility, which have helped sustain their popularity across generations. The name Kaitlyn emerged in the late 20th century as a modern variant, reflecting a trend towards unique spellings and adaptations of traditional names.

This evolution illustrates the dynamic nature of naming practices, where historical significance intertwines with cultural identity, allowing names like Kaitlyn to maintain their relevance over time.

Famous people named Kaitlyn

In this section, you will find notable people named Kaitlyn. 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 Kaitlyn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Kaitlyn 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.

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith is a composer and musician best known for The Kid, Ears, and Sun Moon & Stars.

Kaitlyn Maher is an actress and singer best known for America's Got Talent, Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups, and The Christmas Chronicles.

Kaitlyn Black is an actress best known for Hart of Dixie, The Last Resort, and The Good Doctor.

Kaitlyn Dever is an actress best known for Booksmart, Unbelievable, and Last Man Standing.

Kaitlyn Robrock is a voice actress best known for her roles in various animated series and video games.

Fictional characters named Kaitlyn

The following list of fictional characters named Kaitlyn 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.

Kaitlyn is a fictional character from the video game series Life is Strange. She is a central character in the narrative, known for her complex relationships and emotional depth.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kaitlyn, 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 Kaitlyn. 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 Kaitlyn was first seen in the United States in 1971.

Kaitlyn has ranked as high as #75 nationally, which occurred in 2000, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Kaitlyn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Kaitlyn 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 Kaitlyn 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 Kaitlyn.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 340 0 340
2024 453 0 453
2023 483 0 483
2022 470 0 470
2021 520 0 520
2020 624 0 624
2019 701 0 701
2018 805 0 805
2017 938 0 938
2016 999 0 999
2015 1,663 0 1,663
2014 2,060 0 2,060
2013 2,379 0 2,379
2012 2,601 0 2,601
2011 2,908 0 2,908
2010 3,303 0 3,303
2009 4,212 5 4,207
2008 5,126 9 5,117
2007 5,560 9 5,551
2006 6,085 11 6,074
2005 6,526 5 6,521
2004 7,023 35 6,988
2003 7,558 11 7,547
2002 7,988 7 7,981
2001 8,172 8 8,164
2000 8,771 12 8,759
1999 8,168 10 8,158
1998 7,945 8 7,937
1997 7,015 10 7,005
1996 7,248 7 7,241
1995 7,393 8 7,385
1994 6,692 6 6,686
1993 6,962 6 6,956
1992 7,494 14 7,480
1991 4,414 7 4,407
1990 4,318 6 4,312
1989 3,401 9 3,392
1988 2,698 10 2,688
1987 1,711 5 1,706
1986 1,214 7 1,207
1985 886 7 879
1984 449 0 449
1983 274 0 274
1982 138 0 138
1981 92 0 92
1980 65 0 65
1979 29 0 29
1978 15 0 15
1977 14 0 14
1976 6 0 6
1975 7 0 7
1971 5 0 5

Top States for Kaitlyn (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 60
15%
TX 54
13%
NY 40
10%
FL 19
5%
NJ 17
4%
GA 16
4%
WA 14
3%
PA 14
3%
TN 14
3%
NC 14
3%
OH 13
3%
IL 12
3%
MS 12
3%
IN 11
3%
SC 11
3%
LA 9
2%
VA 8
2%
MD 8
2%
MI 8
2%
AR 6
1%
UT 6
1%
AZ 6
1%
CO 6
1%
MA 6
1%
OK 6
1%
MN 6
1%
ID 6
1%
WI 5
1%
CT 5
1%