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Kaitlyn

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAYT-lin /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/High

Meaning: Pure; a modern American spelling of Caitlin, the Irish Gaelic form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine meaning pureHigh

In 30 seconds: Kaitlyn is an American spelling of the Irish Gaelic Caitlin, which carries the Greek meaning of pure from Katherine, a massively popular two-syllable name that dominated U.S. charts in the 1990s and early 2000s.
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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Greek
MeaningPure; a modern American spelling of Caitlin, the Irish Gaelic form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine meaning pure
U.S. rank (2025)#802 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births340 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 166,681

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200019712025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kaitlyn is an American phonetic spelling of Caitlin, the Irish Gaelic form of Kathleen (English) or Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine, whose meaning is uncertain but most commonly given as pure, from a connection to Greek katharos (pure). Katherine was the name of several early Christian martyrs and saints.

Caitlin and its many American variants including Kaitlyn, Kaitlin, Katelyn, and Catelynn became extremely popular in the United States from the mid-1980s through the 2000s. The Kaitlyn spelling was one of the top variants, reaching the national top 20 in the early 2000s. It has since declined from its peak but remains very recognizable.

Did you know? The Social Security Administration recorded over 40 different spellings of the Caitlin-Kaitlyn sound in U.S. birth records during the name's peak years, from Kaitlin to Kaytlynne, making it one of the most spelling-diversified names in American naming history.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Kaitlyn — Irish Gaelic and Greek etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CaitlinKaitlinKatelynCatelynn

Nicknames

KaitKateKatyLynn

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kaitlyn…

Katelyn— the closest alternate spelling of the exact same sound and name
Caitlin— the traditional Irish Gaelic original form
Hayley— same two-syllable popular girls name from the same 1990s naming era
Ashley— fellow two-syllable late-20th-century American girls name in the same popularity wave

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kaitlyn mean?

Kaitlyn means pure, from the Greek Aikaterine through Irish Gaelic Caitlin.

How do you pronounce Kaitlyn?

It is said KAYT-lin, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Kaitlyn the same as Caitlin?

Yes, Kaitlyn is an American phonetic spelling of the Irish Gaelic Caitlin, both meaning pure from Greek Katherine.

Is Kaitlyn still popular?

Kaitlyn peaked in the U.S. top 20 in the early 2000s and has since declined, though it remains widely recognized.