Irish girl name
Caitlín Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Caitlín means pure. The Irish form of Catherine, from the Greek Aikaterine
Caitlín is the traditional Irish version of Catherine, which can be traced to the Greek name Aikaterine. The meaning pure is the one most often associated with it. It entered Irish long ago and is closely related to Kathleen and Cáit. Caitlín has become widespread outside Ireland in simplified spellings such as Kaitlyn, but the fada-marked original keeps its distinctly Irish character. The name has a gentle and familiar sound, and it works for those who want something classic but not tied to the plain English Catherine.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Caitlín
CaitlinKaitlinKathleenKatelyn
Caitlín popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Caitlín ranked #187 in Ireland (25 babies) and #2,333 in the US (78 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (girls)United States (girls)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Caitlín mean?
Caitlín means "pure". The Irish form of Catherine, from the Greek Aikaterine.
How do you pronounce Caitlín?
Caitlín is pronounced KAT-leen.
What is the origin of Caitlín?
Caitlín is of Irish origin. The Irish form of Catherine, from the Greek Aikaterine.