Cait

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAYT /ˈkeɪt/Medium

Meaning: Cait is the Irish short form of Caitlin and Caitriona, the Gaelic forms of Katherine. Katherine descends from the Greek Aikaterine, long associated with the word katharos, 'pure,' and Cait inherits that meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Cait is an Irish short form of Caitlin or Katherine, tied to the Greek for 'pure.' It has always been a rare given name in its own right (said KAYT).

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Origin LowIrish, Greek

MeaningCait is the Irish short form of Caitlin and Caitriona, the Gaelic forms of Katherine. Katherine descends from the Greek Aikaterine, long associated with the word katharos, 'pure,' and Cait inherits that meaning.

U.S. rank (2022)#15729 ↘ Falling

2022 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2005

Total births (all-time)≈ 153

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Cait is the traditional Irish pet form of Caitlin, Caitriona and Katherine, all rooted in the Greek Aikaterine and its long link to katharos, 'pure.' Given on its own it reads as a spare, Gaelic-flavored alternative to Kate, and it has never been common as a full first name.

It stayed rare, given to only about sixteen girls a year at its high around 2005, while Katherine and Caitlin were far more familiar. A girl named Cait then is around twenty today.

Did you know? In Ireland Cait is an everyday nickname for Caitlin and Caitriona, but as a standalone birth name in the US it has remained genuinely uncommon.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Cait — Irish short form of Caitlin/Katherine; Greek katharos 'pure'

Variations

CaitlinKateCaitriona

Nicknames

CaitCaiti

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Cait…

Kate— the English pet form of the same name

Caitlin— the Irish name Cait shortens

Katherine— the full name behind the family

Katie— a like short form of Katherine

Explore names like Cait

By themerare short irish diminutive

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cait mean?

It is an Irish short form of Caitlin or Katherine, ultimately from the Greek for 'pure.'

How do you pronounce Cait?

It is said KAYT /ˈkeɪt/, a single syllable like Kate.

Is Cait a boy or girl name?

Cait is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Cait?

It has always been rare as a given name, reaching only about sixteen girls a year at its peak in the mid-two-thousands.