Caitlin
Girl name · #2337 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Caitlin? In official American birth records, Caitlin has been tracked continuously since 1955, giving it 70 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 78 baby girls were named Caitlin, placing it at #2337 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #610, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,077 girls born in 2025 was named Caitlin.
The 70-year story
Caitlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1955, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1988, when 7,246 girls were named Caitlin — good for #44 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Caitlin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Caitlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Caitlin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Caitlin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Caitlin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Caitlin is most common
State-level data for Caitlin is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Caitlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Caitlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaitlin, Devin, Courtney, Jacklyn, and Ashton.
KaitlinDevinCourtneyJacklynAshtonShainaCaitlynChristian
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Caitlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #2326 |
| 2024 | 121 | #1681 |
| 2023 | 80 | #2288 |
| 2022 | 86 | #2193 |
| 2021 | 85 | #2186 |
| 2020 | 110 | #1792 |
| 2019 | 142 | #1523 |
| 2018 | 166 | #1360 |
| 2017 | 161 | #1416 |
| 2016 | 218 | #1152 |
| 2015 | 477 | #610 |
| 2014 | 628 | #496 |
| 2013 | 654 | #468 |
| 2012 | 741 | #424 |
| 2011 | 803 | #393 |
| 2010 | 945 | #339 |
| 2009 | 1,216 | #267 |
| 2008 | 1,459 | #235 |
| 2007 | 1,530 | #230 |
| 2006 | 1,653 | #209 |
| 2005 | 1,778 | #193 |
| 2004 | 2,050 | #161 |
| 2003 | 2,311 | #142 |
| 2002 | 2,743 | #123 |
| 2001 | 3,456 | #89 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Caitlin?
In official American birth records, the name Caitlin first appeared in 1955 (over 70 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 70 years.
Is Caitlin a popular girl name?
Caitlin ranked #2337 among girls in 2025 with 78 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #610.
When was the name Caitlin most popular?
Caitlin peaked in 1988, when 7,246 American girls received the name (ranked #44 that year). Since 1988 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Caitlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,077 newborn American girls was named Caitlin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.