Holding steady.
Popularity of Cait since 2000
Babies named Cait per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 94 |
| 2010s | 46 |
| 2020s | 13 |
Meaning & origin
Cait is a short, crisp name that gained modest use in the early 2000s, first recorded in U.S. data in 2000. Its peak year was 2005, after which its trajectory has been stable, suggesting a steady but niche appeal. Although Cait's origins are not fully certain, it is most commonly understood as a streamlined variant of Caitlin or Catherine, connecting it to the long history of the 'pure' meaning. Because the name is rare, there is no recent one-in-N statistic available, and no top states have been recorded for its usage. For parents seeking a simple Irish-flavored alternative to Caitlin or Kate, Cait offers a modern, unadorned option.
Cait is a short form or variant of Caitlin, itself an Irish form of Catherine. Catherine derives from the Greek Aikaterine, which has been linked to the word katharos ('pure') since early Christian times. Cait has been used independently in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century, often as a simplified spelling.
“Cait” around the world
Where Cait lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
19
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Cait
Names that share Cait's style, for a brother or sister.
