Kathlyn
Girl name · #4769 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Kathlyn? In official American birth records, Kathlyn has been tracked continuously since 1897, giving it 128 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 28 baby girls were named Kathlyn, placing it at #4769 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #5833, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 64,286 girls born in 2025 was named Kathlyn.
Babies named Kathlyn per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 128-year story
Kathlyn first appears in the Social Security records in 1897, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1951, when 125 girls were named Kathlyn — good for #794 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Kathlyn against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Kathlyn in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Kathlyn is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". Rare names trade instant recognition for memorability; Kathlyn sits firmly on that end of the spectrum.
Where Kathlyn is most common
State-level data for Kathlyn 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 Kathlyn
Statistically, parents drawn to Kathlyn tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jacquelyn, Bronwyn, Leeann, Carolynn, and Janette.
JacquelynBronwynLeeannCarolynnJanetteCarolynMarilynnRonni
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Kathlyn | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #4758 |
| 2024 | 63 | #2722 |
| 2023 | 9 | #10312 |
| 2022 | 6 | #13592 |
| 2021 | 10 | #9562 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10250 |
| 2019 | 11 | #9112 |
| 2018 | 13 | #8146 |
| 2017 | 12 | #8776 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8393 |
| 2015 | 22 | #5833 |
| 2014 | 12 | #8966 |
| 2013 | 19 | #6462 |
| 2012 | 15 | #7804 |
| 2011 | 20 | #6335 |
| 2010 | 15 | #7880 |
| 2009 | 31 | #4677 |
| 2008 | 23 | #5955 |
| 2007 | 34 | #4380 |
| 2006 | 42 | #3669 |
| 2005 | 39 | #3730 |
| 2004 | 44 | #3391 |
| 2003 | 41 | #3472 |
| 2002 | 34 | #3810 |
| 2001 | 42 | #3256 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Kathlyn?
In official American birth records, the name Kathlyn first appeared in 1897 (over 128 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Kathlyn a popular girl name?
Kathlyn ranked #4769 among girls in 2025 with 28 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5833.
When was the name Kathlyn most popular?
Kathlyn peaked in 1951, when 125 American girls received the name (ranked #794 that year). Since 1951 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Kathlyn?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 64,286 newborn American girls was named Kathlyn. 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.