Caitlin () is a female given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as , which led to many variations in spelling such as Caitlin, Catelynn, Caitlyn, Katlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Katelyn and Katelynn. It is the Irish version of the

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...

name ''Cateline'' , which comes from Catherine, which in turn comes from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine). Catherine is attributed to

St. Catherine of Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria (also spelled Katherine); grc-gre, ἡ Ἁγία Αἰκατερίνη ἡ Μεγαλομάρτυς ; ar, سانت كاترين; la, Catharina Alexandrina). is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, w ...

. Along with the many other variants of Catherine, it is generally believed to mean "pure" because of its long association with the Greek adjective καθαρός ''katharos'' (pure), though the name did not evolve from this word.

Notable people

Literature

* Caitlin Brennan, pseudonym of Judith Tarr, American fantasy writer *

Cait Brennan Wendilyn Marielle Caitlin Brennan (born February 14, 1969), better known by her stage name Cait Brennan, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and screenwriter. Brennan's musical style contains elements of glam rock, psychedelic s ...

, American screenwriter and performer *

Caitlin Davies Caitlin Davies (born 6 March 1964) is an English author, journalist and teacher. Her parents are Hunter Davies and Margaret Forster, both well-known writers.

, English writer *

Caitlin Flanagan Caitlin Flanagan (born November 14, 1961) is an American writer and social critic. A contributor to ''The Atlantic'' since February 2001, she was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2019. Her 2004 piece for ''The New Yorker'' was e ...

, American writer and social critic *

Caitlin R. Kiernan Caitlin () is a female given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as , which ...

, American dark fantasy and sci-fi author * Caitlin Matthews, British author *

Caitlin Moran Catherine Elizabeth Moran (; born 5 April 1975) is an English journalist, author, and broadcaster at ''The Times'', where she writes three columns a week: one for the Saturday Magazine, a TV review column, and the satirical Friday column "Celeb ...

, English journalist and columnist *

Caitlin Thomas Caitlin Thomas (née Macnamara; 8 December 1913 – 31 July 1994) was an author and the wife of the poet and writer Dylan Thomas. Their marriage was a stormy affair, fuelled by alcohol and infidelity, though the couple remained together until Dy ...

, formerly Caitlin Macnamara, British author, wife of poet and writer Dylan Thomas

Film and television

* Caitlin Carmichael, American movie actress *

Caitlin Clarke Caitlin Clarke (born Katherine Anne Clarke, May 3, 1952 – September 9, 2004) was an American theater and film actress best known for her role as Valerian in the 1981 fantasy film ''Dragonslayer (1981 film), Dragonslayer'' and for her role ...

, American theatre and film actress * Caitlin Stasey, Australian actress *

Caitlin Wachs Caitlin Elizabeth Wachs (pronounced ''wax''; born March 15, 1989) is an American production coordinator and actress. She appeared alongside Ally Walker and Robert Davi on the NBC television series '' Profiler'' in the role of Chloe Waters and ...

, American actress *

Caitlin FitzGerald Caitlin FitzGerald (born August 25, 1983) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is best known for her role as Libby Masters in the Showtime television drama ''Masters of Sex'' and as the elusive Simone in Starz series '' Sweetbitter''. Ear ...

, American actress and filmmaker * Caitlin Carmichael, American child actress *

Caitlin Sanchez Caitlin Sanchez is an American actress, best known for being the second voice of the title character Dora in the Nickelodeon animated children's series ''Dora the Explorer''. Career In 2008, Sanchez took over the voice role of the seven-year-old ...

, American voice of the animated character ''Dora the Explorer'' * Caitlin Glass, American voice actress * Caitlin McCarthy, American actress * Kaitlin Colombo, American comedian * Caitlin/ Caity Lotz, American actress, dancer, singer *

Kaitlyn Dever Kaitlyn Rochelle Dever (; born December 21, 1996) is an American actress. She gained recognition for her roles in the FX crime drama television series '' Justified'' (2011–2015), the ABC/Fox sitcom '' Last Man Standing'' (2011–2021), the Net ...

, American actress

Music

* Caitlin Cary, American alternative country musician *Caitlin Hanford, American and Canadian singer/songwriter and member of Quartette and The Marigolds * Caitlin Lynn, of the country music duo Caitlin & Will * Caitlín Maude, Irish poet, singer and language activist * Kaitlyn Maher, American singer from ''America's Got Talent'' * Caitlín O'Riordan, British bass guitarist (

The Pogues The Pogues were an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan and others, founded in Kings Cross, London in 1982, as "Pogue Mahone" – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic ''póg mo thóin'', meaning "kiss my arse". T ...

) *

Katelyn Tarver Katelyn Tarver (born November 2, 1989) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has independently released four EP's since 2011, most notably ''Tired Eyes'' in 2017.

, American singer/songwriter * Caitlyn Taylor Love, American singer/actress * Caitlin Rose, American singer

Politicians

* Caitlín Brugha, née Kingston, Irish politician

Sports

* Caitlin Bassett, Australian netball player * Caitlin Campbell, New Zealand footballer * Caitlin Cahow, American ice hockey player * Caitlin Carruthers, better known as

Kitty Carruthers Caitlin A. "Kitty" Carruthers (born May 30, 1961) is a former American pair skater. With her adoptive brother, Peter Carruthers, she won a 1984 Olympic Silver medal, a 1982 World Bronze medal, and had been a four-time (1981-1984) United States ...

, American figure skater * Katlyn Chookagian, American MMA fighter *

Caitlin Clark Caitlin Clark (born January 22, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference. She plays the point guard position. At Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark was named a M ...

, American basketball player * Caitlin Cooper, Australian association footballer *

Caitlin Cunningham Caitlin Cunningham (born 17 January 1988, in Melbourne) is an Australian women's basketball player who is currently a Free Agent. Cunningham previously played in the WNBL for Adelaide Lightning, Dandenong Rangers, Bulleen Boomers (now Melbourne B ...

, Australian basketball player *

Caitlyn Edwards Caitlyn Edwards (born 27 June 1996) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Early life and state football Edwards grew up in Thornlie, Western Australia, playing netball ...

, Australian rules footballer * Kaitlin Hawayek, American ice dancer *

Caitlyn Jenner Caitlyn Marie Jenner (born William Bruce Jenner; October 28, 1949) is an American media personality and retired Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete. Jenner played college football for the Graceland Yellowjackets before incurring a kne ...

, American track & field athlete, gold medalist at the 1976 Olympics * Kaitlyn Lawes, Canadian curler *

Caitlin Lever Caitlin Anne Lever (born March 12, 1985) is an American-Canadian softball outfielder. Early life Lever was born in Morristown, New Jersey, when her father Don Lever played for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Due to her ...

, Canadian softball player and Olympian * Caitlin Leverenz, American swimmer * Caitlin Lowe, American softball player and Olympian *

Caitlin Mallory Caitlin Mallory (born June 2, 1987) is an American former ice dancer. She is the 2005 Golden Spin of Zagreb silver medalist with Brent Holdburg. In 2008, she began appearing internationally for Estonia with Kristjan Rand. They competed in the fi ...

, American-born ice dancer *

Caitlin McClatchey Caitlin McClatchey (born 28 November 1985) is a British former swimmer. Representing Scotland, she won two gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, in the 200 metres freestyle and 400 metres freestyle. Representing Great Britain, she won bro ...

, Scottish swimmer *

Caitlin Munoz Caitlin Rose Munoz (born 4 October 1983) is an Australian soccer player who played for Canberra Eclipse in the Women's National Soccer League and Canberra United in the W-League. She retired from soccer after the end of the 2019 NPL ACT Wom ...

, Australian association footballer *

Katelyn Ohashi Katelyn Michelle Ohashi (born April 12, 1997) is an American former artistic gymnast who competed for the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a six-time All-American and was a four-time member of USA Gymnastics' Junior National Team, t ...

, American gymnast * Caitlin Parker (born 1996), Australian boxer *

Caitlin Rooskrantz Caitlin Aileen Rooskrantz (born 5 November 2001) is a South African artistic gymnast who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games. She won the uneven bars competitions at the 2018 African Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the 2019 FIG Artistic Gymna ...

(born 2001), South African gymnast * Caitlin Ryan, New Zealand canoeist *

Kaitlyn (wrestler) Celeste Beryl Bonin (born October 7, 1986) is an American entrepreneur, bodybuilder, model, and professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in WWE from 2010 to 2014 and 2018 to 2019, under the ring name Kaitlyn, where she is a former W ...

, ring name of American professional wrestler Celeste Bonin in WWE *

Kaitlin Sandeno Kaitlin Shea Sandeno (born March 13, 1983) is an American former competition swimmer who is an Olympic gold medalist, world champion and former world record-holder. Sandeno was a member of the American team that set a new world record in the 4� ...

, American swimmer * Kaitlyn Vincie, American sports presenter and journalist

Others

Caitlin Brunell Caitlin Brunell (born May 17, 1992) from Great Falls, Virginia won the Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 title in August 2007. In 2014, she was crowned Miss Alabama and represented the state at the Miss America 2015 competition where she was ...

, Miss Alabama 2015 *

Katelynn Cusanelli ''The Real World: Brooklyn'' is the twenty-first season of MTV's reality television series ''The Real World'', which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their ...

, American reality TV personality from ''The Real World: Brooklyn'' *

Caitlin Hill Caitlin Alexandra Hill (born 8 September 1988) is an Australian YouTube personality under the name TheHill88. She produces, edits and uploads her videos from her home in Brisbane, and since 2008 from New York City. Dubbed "the goofy princess of ...

, Australian YouTube personality (username "stageTheHill88") * Caitlin Kinney, American dancer and ''So You Think You Can Dance'' (season 5) contestant * Catelynn Lowell, American reality TV personality of the MTV shows

16 and Pregnant ''16 and Pregnant'' is an American reality television series that aired from June 11, 2009, to July 1, 2014, on the cable channel MTV. It followed the stories of pregnant teenage girls in high school dealing with the hardships of teenage pregnanc ...

and Teen Mom * Caitlin Myers, American professor of economics * Caitlin Rivers, American epidemiologist

Fictional characters

* Catelyn Stark, from the ''

A Song of Ice and Fire ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' is a series of epic fantasy novels by the American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. He began the first volume of the series, ''A Game of Thrones'', in 1991, and it was published in 1996. Martin, who init ...

'' book series and

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

* '' Caitlin's Way'', US-Canadian live action children’s drama *

Caitlin Caitlin () is a female given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as , which ...

, in the second season of the TV series ''

Heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

'' *

, in the ''Pokémon'' series; first introduced in the Sinnoh Battle Frontier, she was later revealed to be an Unova Elite Four member *Caitlyn Kiramman, the Sheriff of Piltover, a playable champion character in video game '' League of Legends'' and character in the animated series ''

Arcane Arcane may refer to: Books and comics * Anton Arcane, a DC Comics character * Arcane Jill Watson, a character in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' * Arcane literature, such as in Cthulhu Mythos Gaming * Arcane magic (''Dungeons & Drago ...

'' * Kait(lyn), in the webcomic ''

Freakangels ''FreakAngels'' is a post-apocalyptic webcomic created in 2008 by Eagle Award-winning writer Warren Ellis and artist Paul Duffield, and published in book format by Avatar Press. The plot focuses on twelve 23-year-old psychics living in Whitechape ...

'' *

Caitlin Atkins Caitlin Atkins is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'', played by Emily Milburn. The actress originally auditioned for the role of Anne Wilkinson and received the part of Caitlin six months later. She made her first ...

, from Australian television series ''

Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera, which has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons an ...

'' *

Caitlin Bree This is a list of major and recurring characters in Kevin Smith's fictional universe known as the View Askewniverse. ''Clerks'' (1994) Dante Hicks Dante Hicks, played by Brian O'Halloran, is 22 (33 in ''Clerks II, 49 in Clerks III''), works at ...

, from 1994 movie ''Clerks'' * Caitlin Cooke, from the show ''6teen'' *

Kaitlin Cooper ''The O.C.'' is an American Television series created by Josh Schwartz for the FOX Network in 2003. Schwartz serves as executive producer while also writing and directing for the show, including the premieres and finales of all seasons. The sh ...

, from American television series '' The O.C.'' *

Caitlin Deschanel ''Sunset Beach'' was an American television soap opera that aired on NBC from January 6, 1997, to December 31, 1999. The show follows the loves and lives of the people living in the Orange County coastal area named Sunset Beach, on the coast of C ...

, from American television series '' Sunset Beach'' * Caitlin Fairchild, from the comic

Gen¹³ ''Gen¹³'' is a superhero team and comic book series originally written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi and illustrated by J. Scott Campbell. It was published by WildStorm under the Image Comics banner, which went on to become an imprint (trade name ...

* Caitlyn Goodwin, from American dub of the Japanese anime series '' Ojamajo Doremi'' * Caitlin Pike, from American television series '' JAG'' *Caitlin Poythress, from the television series ''

We Are Who We Are ''We Are Who We Are'' is a 2020 coming-of-age drama television miniseries co-created and directed by Luca Guadagnino for HBO and Sky Atlantic. A coming-of-age story set on a fictional U.S. military base in Chioggia, Italy in 2016, the series f ...

'' *

Caitlin Ramirez Caitlin () is a female given name of Irish origin. Historically, the Irish name Caitlín was anglicized as Cathleen or Kathleen. In the 1970s, however, non-Irish speakers began pronouncing the name according to English spelling rules as , which ...

, from '' The Bold and the Beautiful'' * Caitlin Ryan, from the '' Degrassi'' television series *

Caitlin Snow Killer Frost is a name used by several female supervillains and superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics: Crystal Frost, Louise Lincoln, and Caitlin Snow. Each different individual in the DC Universe assuming the Killer Frost ...

(also known as Killer Frost) from the CW's

The Flash The Flash (or simply Flash) is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in ''Flash Comics'' #1 (cover date ...

* Caitlin O'Shannessy, from the American television series '' Airwolf'' * Caitlin Todd, from the American television series ''

NCIS NCIS or N.C.I.S. may refer to: Law enforcement * National Criminal Intelligence Service, the predecessor to the Serious Organised Crime Agency of the United Kingdom * Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a United States law enforcement and intelli ...

'' * Caitlin the Streamlined engine, a recurring character in the television series ''

Thomas & Friends ''Thomas & Friends'' (originally known as ''Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'' and later ''Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!'') is a British children's television series that aired across 24 series from 1984 to 2021. Based on ''The ...

Other uses of the name

Typhoon Caitlin (disambiguation) The name Caitlin has been used for two tropical cyclones in the western Pacific Ocean. * Typhoon Caitlin, Typhoon Caitlin (1991), caused heavy rainfall in the Philippines before turning north and passing through the Korea Strait. * 1994 Pacific typ ...

, two tropical cyclones

References

{{Given name Irish-language feminine given names

Notable people

Literature

Film and television

Music

Politicians

Sports

Others

Fictional characters

Other uses of the name

See also

References