UK girl's name
Caitlyn
A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "pure" or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Caitlyn is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Caitlyn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1449, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 353 births.
This profile covers 5,309 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6,682 living people in the UK are called Caitlyn. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Caitlyn ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 353 girls were registered as Caitlyn.
- • Caitlyn ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #342 in 2023.
- • About 6,682 living people in the UK are estimated to have Caitlyn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1449
2024
Births in 2024
22
Latest year
Peak year
2005
353 births
Estimated living
6,682
2026
Meaning
What does Caitlyn mean?
The name Caitlyn is a modern variation of the traditional Irish name Caitlín, which is the Irish Gaelic form of the name Cathleen or Kathleen. The name Cathleen itself derives from the ancient Greek name Katharina, which means "pure" or "clear."
The earliest known record of the name Caitlín dates back to the 17th century in Ireland. It was a common name among Irish families, particularly in the rural areas of the country. The name gained popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with many Irish immigrants bringing the name to other parts of the world, such as the United States and Canada.
While the name Caitlyn is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its root name, Katharina, has a rich history. In the 4th century, there was a Christian saint named Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was martyred for her faith. This association with a revered saint likely contributed to the widespread popularity of the name Katharina and its various forms across Europe.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Caitlyn was Caitlyn Jenner, the American television personality and former Olympic gold medalist in decathlon, born in 1949. Jenner gained widespread attention in 2015 when she publicly announced her transition and adopted the name Caitlyn.
Another notable figure with the name Caitlyn is Caitlyn Vermylen, a Canadian singer-songwriter born in 1986. She has released several albums and received nominations for various music awards.
In the literary world, Caitlyn R. Kiernan is an American writer known for her gothic fiction and comic book work, born in 1964. Her novels and short stories have been acclaimed and honored with numerous awards.
Caitlyn Jenner, the American reality television star and former athlete, born in 1949, is one of the most well-known individuals with the name Caitlyn in recent times.
Caitlyn Cary is an American singer and songwriter, born in 1988, known for her work in the country and Americana genres. She has released several albums and received critical acclaim for her songwriting.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Caitlyn, showcasing its Irish roots and modern popularity.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Caitlyn over time
The chart below shows babies named Caitlyn registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Caitlyn, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 353 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caitlyn by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Caitlyn was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1180 | 145 | 5 |
| 2010s | #364 | 1,576 | 10 |
| 2000s | #160 | 3,114 | 10 |
| 1990s | #387 | 474 | 4 |
Geography
Where Caitlyn is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Caitlyn. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Caitlyn ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #342 in 2023.
Across the UK
Caitlyn in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#342 in 2023
33 years of NRS records, 1,189 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#407 in 2024
22 years of NISRA records, 223 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Caitlyn
-
Caitlyn Hamilton
association football player
2000-
Related
Names similar to Caitlyn
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Caitlyn: questions and answers
How popular is the name Caitlyn in the UK right now?
In 2024, Caitlyn was ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.
When was Caitlyn most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 353 babies registered as Caitlyn in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Caitlyn?
A feminine name of Celtic origin meaning "pure" or "bright".
How many people are called Caitlyn in the UK?
A total of 5,309 babies have been registered as Caitlyn across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 1,189 more in Scotland and 223 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Caitlyn most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Caitlyn ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #342 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.