Contribute your knowledge to the name Caitlyn

Comments and insights on the name Caitlyn: | Edit

Caitlyn is a nice name... but extremely popular, with its 10 different spellings. If you decide to spell this name Caitlyn... you will be forever having to spell it or correct people on the spelling. I also find it impossible to find anything with my name on it using this spelling.

My experience tallies with the above user - though I suspect there's more than ten spellings. I've run into people who mispronounce it "kat-lin" or "kathleen" (Dad says it's the Welsh spelling of Kathleen) as well.

As Jennifer was to the 1980's Caitlyn is to the 1990's. Cute name, but so, SO common these days.

Personal experiences with the name Caitlyn: | Edit

My name is Catelynn, after growing up with a kind of common name with a slightly weird spelling I have seen it spelled a ton of different ways. I have never cared how people spelled my name, in fact I kind of collect the spellings.

Caitlynn, Cattlyn, Cate-lyn, Catelin, Katelin, Kaitlyn, and the list goes on.

I for the most part go by Katie (yes spelled with a "K") which gets me even more neat spelling since most people assume I spell it with a "C". My new favorite is Caiti

Nicknames for Caitlyn: | Edit

Cait, Caity, Caitie, Caitiebean, Caylee, Kitkat, Kitty, Katty, Katiou, Cat, Caity-Cat, Kitty Cat, Cait-Sith, kitten

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My name is Caitlyn and the only nicknames I use are Caity and Cate. My friend once named me Caidi as well, but I just use Caity. And I've had Caitziez. Although my mum sometimes calls me Caity-Poo -_- I'd love people to call me Kitty, but no-one thinks of it, and it's more of a nickname for Catherine/Katherine anyway.

Meanings and history of the name Caitlyn: | Edit

Caitlyn is the Welsh spelling of Caitlin, which is the Irish form of the Old French Cateline, which was from the same root as Katherine. Those are from the Greek name Aikaterine, of debatable etymology. In the early Christian era it became associated with the Greek word "kathros" (pure), which is a much nier meaning than the other possibilities.

CAITLYN IS NOT WELSH
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by Mathonwy

The above contributor is incorrect in believing 'Caitlyn' is of Welsh origin. I am a Welsh speaker and can attest to the fact that it is not Welsh. It is Irish. Many people (often Americans) have a fanciful notion that the so-called 'Celtic' languages are interchangible. This is not the case.

Caitlyn has never been Welsh in nature.

(August, 2009)

Famous real-life people named Caitlyn: | Edit

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Caitlyn in song, story & screen: | Edit

Caitlyn Carruthers, an American figure skater

Caitlin was the central character of the "Caitlin" series of books for young adults by Sweet Valley High author Francine Pascal.