UK girl's name
Kaitlan
A feminine name derived from the Gaelic Caitlín, a diminutive of Cáit.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kaitlan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kaitlan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3549, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 29 births.
This profile covers 234 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 232 living people in the UK are called Kaitlan. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kaitlan ranked #3549 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 29 girls were registered as Kaitlan.
- • About 232 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kaitlan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3549
2011
Births in 2011
6
Latest year
Peak year
2000
29 births
Estimated living
232
2026
Meaning
What does Kaitlan mean?
The name Kaitlan is a modern variant of the traditional Scottish name Caitlin, which is derived from the Gaelic word "caidlion," meaning "pure" or "bright." The name has its roots in the Celtic culture of ancient Scotland and Ireland, and it can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kaitlan can be found in the Scottish clan histories, where it was used as a feminine form of the masculine name Caitlin. However, it was not until the 20th century that the name gained widespread popularity, particularly in the United States.
Although the name Kaitlan does not appear in any major religious texts or ancient literary works, it has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Kaitlan MacLeod, a Scottish noblewoman who lived in the 16th century and was renowned for her courage and leadership during the clan wars.
Another notable bearer of the name was Kaitlan O'Malley, an Irish revolutionary who fought against British rule in the early 20th century. She was a prominent figure in the Irish Republican Army and played a significant role in the Easter Rising of 1916.
In the realm of literature, Kaitlan MacKenzie was a Scottish author and poet who lived in the late 19th century. Her works explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
More recently, Kaitlan Collins, born in 1992, is an American journalist and White House correspondent for CNN. She has covered several high-profile events, including the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaitlan Brunstein, born in 1988, is a Canadian-American actress known for her roles in television shows like "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Originals." She has also appeared in several films and has been praised for her versatility as an actress.
While the name Kaitlan has gained popularity in recent decades, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic cultures of Scotland and Ireland, where it was imbued with meanings of purity and brightness.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kaitlan over time
The chart below shows babies named Kaitlan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kaitlan, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2011, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaitlan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kaitlan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3353 | 13 | 2 |
| 2000s | #1906 | 151 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1357 | 70 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kaitlan
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kaitlan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kaitlan in the UK right now?
In 2011, Kaitlan was ranked #3549 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Kaitlan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 29 babies registered as Kaitlan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kaitlan?
A feminine name derived from the Gaelic Caitlín, a diminutive of Cáit.
How many people are called Kaitlan in the UK?
A total of 234 babies have been registered as Kaitlan across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.