Declining since 2005.
Popularity of Catelyn since 1985
Babies named Catelyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 172 |
| 1990s | 663 |
| 2000s | 918 |
| 2010s | 501 |
| 2020s | 40 |
Meaning & origin
Catelyn first appeared on U.S. records in 1985 and rose quickly in popularity, peaking in 2006. Since then it has been on a steady decline, falling out of the top 1000 after 2005. The name is a respelling of Caitlin, which itself became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. While Catelyn is relatively recent, it connects to the ancient name Catherine, rooted in the Greek word for 'pure'. Its popularity spike was likely influenced by the character Catelyn Stark from the A Song of Ice and Fire books and the Game of Thrones television series. However, the name has not maintained its momentum and has been decreasing in use.
Catelyn is a modern respelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine. The name Catherine derives from the Greek Aikaterine, which has been associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning 'pure'. It entered Irish usage through the Norman French version, Cateline, and became popular in Ireland. The Catelyn spelling emerged in the late 20th century, partly influenced by the character Catelyn Stark in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (first published 1996).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cat, Cate, Cathy, Lyn
Sibling names for Catelyn
Names that share Catelyn's style, for a brother or sister.
