Caitlin
KAYT-lin · 2 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Hebrew / Irish ◈ 2 syllables
"God is gracious / pure"

From Hebrew / Irish

Caitlin means pure — the original Irish Gaelic form of Katherine, from the Greek katharos. Caitlín is how Ireland has said Katherine for centuries — the most authentically Gaelic spelling. The name carries Greek purity through maximum Irish authenticity. Three syllables of Gaelic-Katherine heritage through the most traditional possible Irish calligraphy.

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Caitlin at a glance
MeaningGod is gracious / pure
OriginHebrew / Irish
GenderFemale
Syllables2
NumerologyLife Path 5
US Rank (today)#1620
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Why parents love Caitlin
  • Caitlín is the original Irish form of Katherine.
  • The most authentically Gaelic spelling.
  • Three syllables with a strong, Irish sound: KAYT-lin.
  • The meaning pure carries Greek-through-Irish depth.
  • Kate is embedded with Gaelic authority.
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The vibe of Caitlin
pureIrish GaelicKatherinekatharosauthenticGaelictraditionalCelticcenturies
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Origin & history of Caitlin
Greek katharos (pure) → Katherine → Irish Gaelic Caitlín → Caitlin
1
Hebrew / Irish roots
Caitlin is the original Irish Gaelic form of Katherine meaning pure. Caitlín is how Ireland has said Katherine for centuries — the most authentically Gaelic spelling.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Irish Gaelic form of Katherine.
3
Today
Caitlin remains a beloved choice, ranking #1620 in the US. 112,351 babies have been named Caitlin since 1955.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Caitlin?
1988 peak year
Caitlin found its strongest footing in the 1980s, peaking at #44 nationally. In 1988, 7,246 babies were named Caitlin (ranked #44 nationally). In the present decade it sits well outside the top 1,000 (around #1620), with about 165 babies given the name annually. Caitlin has been declining in recent years. The all-time total comes to roughly 112,351 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
7,246 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #44)
165 Avg. per year
(last decade)
1,650 Total registrations
last 10 years
112,351 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #1,620) Moderate
↓ Declining in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
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Numerology of Caitlin
5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.

Caitlin's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — Irish-pure leadership. People named Caitlin tend to be strong, authentic, and gifted at being the most Gaelic form of purity.

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Most Gaelic purity
✦
Irish-centuries
◈
Katherine-authentic
◎
Celtic-strong
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Kate-Gaelic
C3
A1
I9
T2
L3
I9
N5
Sum: 32 → Life path 5
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Personality of Caitlin
🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
⚡
Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
💬
Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
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Famous people named Caitlin

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Names that sound like Caitlin

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Names that combine with Caitlin

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Caitlin.

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Middle names for Caitlin

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
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Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Caitlin is a beautiful choice.
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