Katelyn
Say it: KATE-lin
GirlMeans a spelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine7 letters2 syllables
#273
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#35
best rank (2003)
2,161
babies since 1989
Down 153
10-year rank change
Katelyn through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 19 | #227 |
| 2023 | 14 | #279 |
| 2022 | 16 | #269 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 14 | #292 |
| 2019 | 24 | #203 |
| 2018 | 29 | #182 |
| 2017 | 23 | #219 |
| 2016 | 35 | #156 |
| 2015 | 51 | #123 |
| 2014 | 48 | #123 |
| 2013 | 75 | #86 |
| 2012 | 70 | #91 |
| 2011 | 91 | #78 |
| 2010 | 110 | #68 |
| 2009 | 128 | #57 |
| 2008 | 126 | #56 |
| 2007 | 142 | #47 |
| 2006 | 152 | #43 |
| 2005 | 153 | #41 |
| 2004 | 171 | #37 |
| 2003 | 173 | #35 |
| 2002 | 109 | #52 |
| 2001 | 96 | #52 |
| 2000 | 94 | #46 |
| 1999 | 55 | #82 |
| 1998 | 31 | #126 |
| 1997 | 21 | #213 |
| 1996 | 18 | #216 |
| 1995 | 14 | #250 |
| 1994 | 8 | #329 |
| 1993 | 4 | #448 |
| 1992 | 7 | #364 |
| 1991 | 8 | #338 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Katelyn mean?
A spelling of Caitlin, the Irish form of Catherine
An English-style spelling of the Irish Caitlín, itself from Catherine.
Say it right
KATElin
The Irish Caitlín is said KATCH-leen; Katelyn follows the English reading.
The story of Katelyn
Katelyn is one of many spellings of Caitlin. In Irish, Caitlín is the form of Catherine, and it was once put into English as Cathleen or Kathleen. From the 1970s, people who did not speak Irish began to read Caitlin by English spelling rules, as KATE-lin. That led to a long list of new spellings, Katelyn among them.
It suited the fashion of the time for names ending in -lyn, and it spread quickly in the United States, Britain and Ireland.
Katelyn first reached the CSO list in 1989. It peaked in 2003, with 173 girls and a place at number 35. It was also popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 60 in 2003. The CSO counts Caitlin, Kaitlyn and the other spellings separately, so together they were given to many more girls. In 2025, 15 girls were named Katelyn.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Katelyn (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Caitlin
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Katelyn | 15 | 2,161 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #60 (2003); 339 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.