Kaitlin
Girl name · #4101 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kaitlin? In official American birth records, Kaitlin has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 35 baby girls were named Kaitlin, placing it at #4101 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1329, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 51,429 girls born in 2025 was named Kaitlin.
The 54-year story
Kaitlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 3,602 girls were named Kaitlin — good for #94 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 Kaitlin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kaitlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kaitlin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kaitlin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Kaitlin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Kaitlin is most common
State-level data for Kaitlin 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 Kaitlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Kaitlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Caitlin, Kelsea, Kirsten, Kelsi, and Kierra.
CaitlinKelseaKirstenKelsiKierraKarissaKayshaKatherin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kaitlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | #4067 |
| 2024 | 27 | #4893 |
| 2023 | 34 | #4191 |
| 2022 | 23 | #5465 |
| 2021 | 35 | #4090 |
| 2020 | 47 | #3281 |
| 2019 | 67 | #2593 |
| 2018 | 65 | #2647 |
| 2017 | 66 | #2635 |
| 2016 | 81 | #2321 |
| 2015 | 178 | #1329 |
| 2014 | 251 | #1032 |
| 2013 | 248 | #1005 |
| 2012 | 319 | #837 |
| 2011 | 342 | #790 |
| 2010 | 441 | #662 |
| 2009 | 531 | #576 |
| 2008 | 673 | #473 |
| 2007 | 781 | #420 |
| 2006 | 957 | #344 |
| 2005 | 1,003 | #321 |
| 2004 | 1,101 | #297 |
| 2003 | 1,191 | #264 |
| 2002 | 1,456 | #219 |
| 2001 | 1,821 | #180 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kaitlin?
In official American birth records, the name Kaitlin first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is Kaitlin a popular girl name?
Kaitlin ranked #4101 among girls in 2025 with 35 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1329.
When was the name Kaitlin most popular?
Kaitlin peaked in 1995, when 3,602 American girls received the name (ranked #94 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kaitlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 51,429 newborn American girls was named Kaitlin. 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.