Kaitlynn
Feminine form of a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Name Census estimates that about 16,028 living Americans carry the first name Kaitlynn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kaitlynn today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kaitlynn births was 1999 (822 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kaitlynn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
16K
~ 1 in 21,385 Americans
Peak year
1999
822 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2004 SSA rank
#3,528
Tracked since 1982
Gender
Gender distribution for Kaitlynn
Out of the 16,378 babies given the name Kaitlynn since 1880, 100.0% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Kaitlynn as a male name
- Ranked #12,284 in 2004
- 5 male births in 2004
- Peak: 2004 (5 births)
Kaitlynn as a female name
- Ranked #3,528 in 2024
- 44 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1999 (822 births)
Popularity
Kaitlynn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Kaitlynn from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 6,602 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kaitlynn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kaitlynn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Kaitlynns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 47 states and territories. Texas, California, Ohio recorded the most babies named Kaitlynn, while Delaware, Montana, North Dakota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 314 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Kaitlynn
The name Kaitlynn is a modern variation of the traditional Scottish name Caitlin, which is derived from the Gaelic name Caitlíona. The Gaelic name Caitlíona is believed to have originated from the Greek name Aithalione, meaning "little battlemaiden" or "little fighter."
The name Caitlín first appeared in written records in the late 16th century, primarily in Ireland and Scotland. It was a popular name among the Celtic cultures and was often associated with strong-willed and independent women. The spelling variation "Kaitlynn" is a more recent development, likely emerging in the 20th century.
While the name Caitlín has deep roots in Celtic history and mythology, there are no known direct references to it in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, the name's meaning and association with strength and resilience resonate with the warrior spirit celebrated in Celtic folklore and legends.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caitlín can be found in the 17th century, when it was the name of an Irish noblewoman, Caitlín Dubh, who was a prominent figure in the Confederate Wars of the 1640s. Another notable bearer of the name was Caitlín Ní Uallacháin (1800-1873), an Irish poet and storyteller known for her contributions to preserving Irish oral traditions.
In more recent times, the name Kaitlynn has been carried by several famous individuals, including Kaitlynn Carter (born 1988), an American blogger and influencer; Kaitlynn Bristowe (born 1985), a Canadian television personality and former contestant on "The Bachelor"; and Kaitlynn Lawes (born 1988), a Canadian Olympic gold medalist in curling.
Other notable individuals with variations of the name include Caitlin Moran (born 1975), a British journalist and author; Caitlin Doughty (born 1984), an American mortician and author known for her advocacy for death acceptance; and Caitlin Stasey (born 1990), an Australian actress and advocate for women's rights.
The name Kaitlynn, with its rich Celtic heritage and associations with strength and resilience, has endured through the ages and continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a touch of historical significance and a sense of empowerment.
People
Kaitlynn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kaitlynn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kaitlynn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kaitlynn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16,028 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kaitlynn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 21,385 US residents.
Is Kaitlynn a common name?
We classify Kaitlynn as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16,378 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kaitlynn most popular?
The single biggest year for Kaitlynn was 1999, when 822 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kaitlynn is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Kaitlynn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kaitlynn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.