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Home › Baby Names Directory › Katelyn

Katelyn

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAYT-lin /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/High

Meaning: Pure; American spelling variant of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine, from Greek AikaterineHigh

In 30 seconds: An American spelling of Caitlin meaning 'pure.' The name exploded across the United States in the 1980s–1990s in dozens of spellings (Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlin, Katelin), becoming one of the defining names of the Millennial generation.
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Origin HighIrish, Greek
MeaningPure; American spelling variant of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine, from Greek Aikaterine
U.S. rank (2025)#1077 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births225 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1993
Total births (all-time)≈ 134,042

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199319702025

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

Katelyn is an American respelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine (Catriona/Caitriona in Irish Gaelic), which derives from the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning 'pure' is the established folk etymology, though the Greek original's precise root is debated by scholars.

Katelyn and its variants (Kaitlyn, Caitlin, Katelynn, Katelin) dominated U.S. girls' charts from the late 1980s through the early 2000s, collectively reaching enormous numbers. Individual spellings have declined since their peaks; Katelyn ranked #931 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? The name Caitlin was essentially unknown outside Ireland before the 1970s; its U.S. explosion was sparked partly by the fame of writer Caitlin Thomas (widow of Dylan Thomas) and accelerated rapidly through the 1980s in countless spelling variants.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Caitlin — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KaitlynCaitlinKatelynnKatelinCaitlyn

Nicknames

KateKatieKatyKay

Famous Bearers

  • ★Katelyn Ohashi (1997-)
    American former artistic gymnast known for a viral perfect-10 floor routine
  • ★Katelyn Tarver (1989-)
    American singer-songwriter and actress

If you like Katelyn…

Kaitlyn— the most common alternate spelling of the same name
Caitlin— the original Irish form this spelling derives from
Madelyn— three-syllable -lyn name that peaked in the same era
Gracelyn— -lyn compound name in the same sound family
Brooklyn— two-syllable place-name with the same -lyn ending popular in the same era

Explore names like Katelyn

By themegreekclassicirishvariant-spelling
By meaningPurity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Katelyn mean?

Katelyn means 'pure,' as an American respelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine, from Greek Aikaterine.

How do you pronounce Katelyn?

It's said KAYT-lin — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Katelyn a boy or girl name?

Katelyn is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Katelyn?

Katelyn ranked #931 for U.S. girls in 2024, having declined from its Millennial-era peak.

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