Caitlyn
Girl name · #2496 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Caitlyn? In official American birth records, Caitlyn has been tracked continuously since 1968, giving it 57 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 71 baby girls were named Caitlyn, placing it at #2496 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #598, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 girls born in 2025 was named Caitlyn.
The 57-year story
Caitlyn first appears in the Social Security records in 1968, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 2,937 girls were named Caitlyn — good for #115 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 Caitlyn per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Caitlyn against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Caitlyn in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Caitlyn is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Caitlyn will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Caitlyn is most common
State-level data for Caitlyn 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 Caitlyn
Statistically, parents drawn to Caitlyn tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaylyn, Katelyn, Kaitlyn, Jessalyn, and Jacklyn.
KaylynKatelynKaitlynJessalynJacklynKatelynnCarleyCameryn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Caitlyn | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2485 |
| 2024 | 78 | #2347 |
| 2023 | 103 | #1922 |
| 2022 | 123 | #1692 |
| 2021 | 127 | #1641 |
| 2020 | 127 | #1632 |
| 2019 | 198 | #1186 |
| 2018 | 206 | #1170 |
| 2017 | 232 | #1091 |
| 2016 | 249 | #1049 |
| 2015 | 494 | #598 |
| 2014 | 692 | #462 |
| 2013 | 754 | #406 |
| 2012 | 826 | #378 |
| 2011 | 930 | #343 |
| 2010 | 1,071 | #302 |
| 2009 | 1,279 | #256 |
| 2008 | 1,492 | #227 |
| 2007 | 1,611 | #213 |
| 2006 | 1,755 | #200 |
| 2005 | 1,898 | #182 |
| 2004 | 2,030 | #165 |
| 2003 | 2,080 | #160 |
| 2002 | 2,266 | #148 |
| 2001 | 2,536 | #133 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Caitlyn?
In official American birth records, the name Caitlyn first appeared in 1968 (over 57 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 57 years.
Is Caitlyn a popular girl name?
Caitlyn ranked #2496 among girls in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #598.
When was the name Caitlyn most popular?
Caitlyn peaked in 1998, when 2,937 American girls received the name (ranked #115 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Caitlyn?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American girls was named Caitlyn. 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.