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Kaitlan
How to Pronounce Kaitlan
Pronounced KATE-lin /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/High
Meaning: Kaitlan is a respelling of Caitlin or Katelyn, the Irish form of Katherine, reaching English through Cateline. The ancient root is uncertain but was linked early to katharos, 'pure.'Medium
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
Kaitlan respells Caitlin, the Irish form of Katherine, whose name was tied early to the Greek katharos, 'pure.' In the great late-'80s and '90s boom of Caitlin spellings, Kaitlan was one variant, and it reached its high point in 1990.
A Kaitlan from the peak is now in her mid-thirties. The spelling dates her to around 1990; Caitlin and Katelyn are the fuller forms, and this variant reads as a period stylization rather than a revival.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Kaitlan mean?
Kaitlan is a respelling of Caitlin or Katelyn, the Irish form of Katherine, long understood as 'pure.'
How do you pronounce Kaitlan?
It's said KATE-lin /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Kaitlan a boy or girl name?
Kaitlan is used as a girl's name, a variant of Caitlin.
How popular is Kaitlan?
Kaitlan was an uncommon spelling of the popular Caitlin, cresting around the turn of the nineties.