Holding steady.
Popularity of Caitlinn since 1988
Babies named Caitlinn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 19 |
| 1990s | 75 |
| 2000s | 32 |
| 2010s | 7 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Caitlinn first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1988, reaching its peak popularity in the year 2000. Since then, its usage has been stable, though it has never ranked among the top 1000 names. The name follows a pattern of creative respellings of Caitlin, which itself has Irish roots as an Anglicization of Caitlín. The double 'n' ending gives it a slightly different visual identity while preserving the familiar pronunciation. As a modern variant, Caitlinn reflects a trend toward individualized spellings that became popular in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Caitlinn is a variant spelling of Caitlin, itself an Irish and English form of Catherine. The name Catherine derives from the Greek Aikaterine, of uncertain origin, but traditionally associated with katharos meaning 'pure'. The spelling Caitlinn, with a double 'n', emerged in the late 20th century as a modern respelling, likely influenced by similar names like Kaitlyn.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cait, Catie, Caitie
Sibling names for Caitlinn
Names that share Caitlinn's style, for a brother or sister.
