You say Caitlin, I say Katelynne...

 








 

  

The name Caitlin, pronounced Kate-Lynn, has been extremely popular in the USA and Australia for several years. Recently, in the USA at least, the trend is for people to spell names as uniquely as possible. In Irish, the name Caitlín is pronounced more like /koyt-hleen/-- it's the name from which we get the anglicization Kathleen. But, if you like kreativv spellings, here are 155 plausible ways to spell the name, based on actual recorded spellings. You can spell it Q'8-llynne if you really want to, but we'd recommend not!

You can also check out my list of Alternatives to Katelyn for more ideas.

Caitlin Catelin Caytlin Caytelin Catlin Caetlin Caitelin Cayetlin
Caitlan Catelan Caytlan Caytelan Catlan Caetlan Caitelan Cayetlan
Caitlyn Catelyn Caytlyn Caytelyn Catlyn Caetlyn Caitelyn Cayetlyn
Caitlynn Catelynn Caytlynn Caytelynn Catlynn Caetlynn Caitelynn Cayetlynn
Caitlynne Catelynne Caytlynne Caytelynne Catlynne Caetlynne Caitelynne Cayetlynne
Caitlind Catelind Caytlind Caytelind Catlind Caetlind Caitelind Cayetlind
Caitland Cateland Caytland Cayteland Catland Caetland Caiteland Cayetland
Caitlinn Catelinn Caytlinn Caytelinn Catlinn Caetlinn Caitelinn Cayetlinn
Caitlinne Catelinne Caytlinne Caytelinne Catlinne Caetlinne Caitelinne Cayetlinne
Kaitlin Katelin Kaytlin Kaytelin Katlin Kaetlin Keightlin Kaitelin Kayetlin
Kaitlan Katelan Kaytlan Kaytelan Katlan Kaetlan Keightlan Kaitelan Kayetlan
Kaitlyn Katelyn Kaytlyn Kaytelyn Katlyn Kaetlyn Keightlyn Kaitelyn Kayetlyn
Kaitlynn Katelynn Kaytlynn Kaytelynn Katlynn Kaetlynn Keightlynn Kaitelynn Kayetlynn
Kaitlynne Katelynne Kaytlynne Kaytelynne Katlynne Kaetlynne Keightlynne Kaitelynne Kayetlynne
Kaitlind Katelind Kaytlind Kaytelind Katlind Kaetlind Keightlind Kaitelind Kayetlind
Kaitland Kateland Kaytland Kayteland Katland Kaetland Keightland Kaiteland Kayetland
Kaitlinn Katelinn Kaytlinn Kaytelinn Katlinn Kaetlinn Keightlinn Kaitelinn Kayetlinn
Kaitlinne Katelinne Kaytlinne Kaytelinne Katlinne Kaetlinne Keightlinne Kaitelinne Kayetlinne

...It's also been recorded as Katelyin, Kaitlen and Caitlon, but I didn't add these to the general bunch, because I thought it was just too Yu-neeq for me to handle!

 

The Top Spellings of Katelyn in the USA

Overall, Katelyn and all its spellings was the #2 most popular name in 1998. In 2006, it was down to #7, but still in the top 10! Here are most popular spellings in the USA over the years. 

1998 1999 2000 2003 2006
  1. Katelyn
  2. Kaitlyn
  3. Caitlin
  4. Caitlyn
  5. Kaitlin
  6. Katelynn
  7. Kaitlynn
  8. Katelin
  9. Caitlynn
  10. Katlyn
  11. Katlin
  12. Katlynn
  1. Kaitlyn
  2. Katelyn
  3. Caitlin
  4. Caitlyn
  5. Kaitlin 
  6. Katelynn
  7. Katlyn
  8. Kaitlynn 
  9. Katelin 
  10. Katlynn
  11. Katlin
  12. Caitlynn
  1. Kaitlyn
  2. Katelyn
  3. Caitlin
  4. Caitlyn
  5. Kaitlin
  6. Katelynn
  7. Katlyn
  8. Kaitlynn
  9. Katelin
  10. Caitlynn
  11. Katlynn
  12. Katlin
  1. Kaitlyn
  2. Katelyn
  3. Caitlin
  4. Caitlyn
  5. Katelynn
  6. Kaitlin
  7. Kaitlynn
  8. Katelin
  9. Katlyn
(didn't have access to the same # of names these years)
  1. Kaitlyn
  2. Katelyn
  3. Caitlyn
  4. Caitlin
  5. Katelynn
  6. Kaitlin
  7. Kaitlynn
  8. Katlyn
(didn't have access to the same # of names these years)

Alternatives to Katelyn

OK, so you love the name Katelyn, but aren't so sure you want your daughter to be one of 5 in her classes at school. Here are some names you could use instead:

Names with the nickname Katie (beware, with all of the Katherines, Katelyns and just plain Katies, there will probably be more Katies in your daughter's class than just Katelyns):

  • Caitríona/Catriona/Catrina (pronounced like Katrina, or kat-REE-uh-na)
    This is another Irish form of Katherine.
  • Caitrín/Catrin (pronounced like Katrine)
    This is yet another Irish form of Katherine.
  • Kathleen/Cathleen
    This pretty timeless Irish name is the anglicization of the Irish pronounciation of Caitlín. Beware of boys singing "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" to her in high school!
  • Katya/Katia (KOT ya, KAT ya)
    This is not an Irish name, but it's very pretty. It's a Russian nickname for Ekaterina, the Russian form of Katherine.
  • Katarina
    Again, it's not Irish, but a very pretty name.
  • Katriel/Catriel (cat-ree-EL, cot-ree-EL)
    This pretty Hebrew name could also have the nickname Ellie, if your little "Katie L.#6" gets tired of being yet another Katie. 
  • Catesby
    This is a surname I saw in the paper. It sounds a bit upsale, but would fit right in with all of the little Carringtons and Westons out there. Cate could be a classy nickname, a la actress Cate Blanchett.
  • and for the daring, Arcadia, Acadia
    Hey, you get the nn Cady, which sounds like Katie to most people!

Similar Names

You've given up on Katie--here are some other names that have the same feeling as Katelyn:
  • Keelin
    This pretty Irish name means 'fair and slender' (Caoilfhionn in Irish). It has the plus of having the nickname Keely, which is pretty.
  • Keavy/Keeva
    Spelled Caoimhe in Irish, this name means "lovliness", "gentleness" or "grace."
  • Carlin
    This is an anglicization of an Irish surname.
  • Aislinn/Aisling (ASH lin/ASH ling)
    These names mean "dream; vision" in Irish. You could also use the American form, Ashlyn, but beware of her being constantly confused with Ashleys.
  • Cara
    This pretty, underused name is the Irish word for 'friend.' It's also the Italian word for 'dear.'
  • Cairenn (CAWR in, CAR in- first syllably rhymes with star, not like Karen)
    This is the Irish form of the name Carina, which means 'dear one' in Latin.
  • Cliona/Clíona/Clíodhna (KLEE uh na- doesn't rhyme with Fiona)
    This ancient Gaelic name has the advantage of having the spunky nickname Clio. Maeve Binchy used this name in one of her books. I think it was The Copper Beech. Write to me if I got it wrong!
  • Cashel, Cashlin (CASH ul, CASH lin, CASH leen)
    These names come from the Irish place names, Caiseal and Caislín. They mean "castle" and "little castle."