Katlyn
Caitlin is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as KAYT-lin, which led to many variations in spelling such as Caitlin, Ceitlin, Catelynn, Caitlyn, Katlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyne, Katelyn and Katelynn.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Katlyn
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Caitlin is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as KAYT-lin, which led to many variations in spelling such as Caitlin, Ceitlin, Catelynn, Caitlyn, Katlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Kaitlyne, Katelyn and Katelynn.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Katlyn
American parents first put Katlyn on the record books as a baby girl name in 1979, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 1,260 Katlyns were born — ranking #223 that year. About 58% of every Katlyn on record arrived during the 1990s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Katlyn ranks #5,029 for baby girls with 26 births, rising sharply (+20% over the past five years). All told, over 18K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Katlyn
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Katlyn. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Katlyn
Phonetically similar names — useful when Katlyn is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Katlyn
What does the name Katlyn mean?
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How popular is Katlyn in 2026?
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In which U.S. states is Katlyn most popular?
Is Katlyn a unisex name?
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About the name Katlyn
Katlyn is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1979 and has accumulated 18K births in the dataset. Katlyn's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #223. Use the chart and map above to compare Katlyn's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1995 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.