Kaitlan

Meaning & origin

Kaitlan is a modern American spelling variant that first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1982. It enjoyed a brief period of modest popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, reaching its peak in 1990 at rank 2,107, when it was given to approximately 1 in 12,000 newborn girls. Since then, its usage has declined sharply; as of 2025, it remains in use but is far less common, reflecting a broader cultural shift away from ornate respellings of traditional names like Caitlin and Katelyn. The trajectory of Kaitlan's popularity is stable at very low levels, with no significant revival in recent years. The name has not appeared with notable frequency in any single state during its recorded history, suggesting a diffuse pattern of use across the United States rather than a regional concentration.

Kaitlan is a modern American spelling variant of Caitlin, which itself derives from the Irish Gaelic name Caitlín, a form of Catherine. The spelling Kaitlan gained modest use in the 1980s and 1990s, likely influenced by the broader trend of respelling established names with creative vowel combinations.