UK girl's name
Katelen
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from Greek meaning "pure".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Katelen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Katelen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5545, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 5 births.
This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1997 to 2008. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Katelen. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Katelen ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 5 girls were registered as Katelen.
- • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Katelen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5545
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
5 births
Estimated living
28
2026
Meaning
What does Katelen mean?
The given name Katelen is a relatively modern name that does not have a long historical lineage. It is believed to be an anglicized spelling of the French name Catelene or Catelaine, which in turn derives from the Latin name Catellina. The origin of the name can be traced back to the Latin word "catella," meaning "little cat."
In the Middle Ages, names derived from animal references were quite common, particularly among the lower classes. The name Catellina was likely given to a young girl who was perceived as playful or agile, much like a kitten. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Catalina, Caterina, and eventually, the English form Katelen.
While there are no significant historical figures bearing the exact name Katelen, some notable individuals have shared similar variations. One of the earliest recorded instances is Catalina de Erauso (1592-1650), a Spanish nun who famously escaped her convent and lived as a man under the name Antonio de Erauso, becoming a soldier in the Spanish colonies.
Another famous bearer of the name was Catalina de Aragón (1485-1536), the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. Her refusal to annul their marriage was a significant factor in the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England.
In the literary world, Caterina Sforza (1463-1509) was an Italian noble woman renowned for her patronage of the arts and her fierce defense of her family's territories. Her life inspired numerous works of literature, including Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem "Orlando Furioso."
A more contemporary figure was Caterina Valente (1931-2022), an Italian-Swiss singer and actress who enjoyed a successful career spanning over seven decades. She was particularly popular in Germany and was honored with numerous awards for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
While not as prominent as some of the aforementioned individuals, there have been a few notable Katelens throughout history. Katelen Van Hecke (born 1992) is a Belgian professional tennis player who has achieved success on the ITF Women's Circuit. Additionally, Katelen Acker (born 1988) is an American actress known for her roles in films such as "The Stepfather" and "The Truth About Angels."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Katelen over time
The chart below shows babies named Katelen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Katelen, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Katelen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Katelen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4282 | 21 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3537 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Katelen
- 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
Katelen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Katelen in the UK right now?
In 2008, Katelen was ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Katelen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 5 babies registered as Katelen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Katelen?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from Greek meaning "pure".
How many people are called Katelen in the UK?
A total of 28 babies have been registered as Katelen across the 8 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.