Kaitlin is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Irish name Caitlín. The name means "pure" or "clean," and it is often associated with the Irish word for "pure" or "chaste." The name has been popular in Ireland for centuries, and it was brought to other parts of the world by Irish immigrants.
The name Kaitlin first appeared in the United States during the late 19th century, but it did not become widely popular until the mid-20th century. In the 1980s and 1990s, the name became particularly popular in North America, with thousands of girls being named Kaitlin each year.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kaitlin. One famous example is American actress Kate Hudson, who was born with the name Kaitlyn Rutledge before changing it to her current stage name. Another notable figure is Australian swimmer Kaitlin Jones, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Despite its Irish origins, the name Kaitlin has been adopted by people of various backgrounds and nationalities around the world. Today, it remains a popular choice for parents looking for a unique yet approachable name for their daughters.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Kaitlin has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past five decades in the United States.
The earliest data available is from 1971, with only 8 births that year. The following year saw an increase to 7 births, but there was a drop to just 5 births in 1973. However, starting from 1975, the popularity of Kaitlin began to rise steadily.
In 1975, there were 17 births with the name Kaitlin, which doubled to 34 births by 1978. The turning point came in 1980 when 135 babies were named Kaitlin at birth, marking a significant increase in popularity.
The years between 1980 and 1996 saw the highest number of newborn girls being named Kaitlin. In 1985 alone, there were 1236 births with this name, reaching its peak in 1994 with 3501 births. This trend continued into the mid-1990s, with over 3000 babies named Kaitlin each year from 1990 to 1997.
However, after 1996, the popularity of the name Kaitlin began to decline gradually. By the year 2000, there were still around 2000 births with this name, but this number dropped significantly in the following years. In 2010, for instance, only 441 babies were named Kaitlin at birth.
The recent years have seen a further decrease in the popularity of the name Kaitlin. Since 2016, fewer than 200 babies per year have been given this name. The most recent data available is from 2023, with only 34 births registered as Kaitlin.
In conclusion, while the name Kaitlin was extremely popular during its peak years in the late 1980s and early to mid-1990s, it has since experienced a significant decline in popularity over time. Despite this trend, the name remains present on the birth registry today, with some babies still being named Kaitlin each year in the United States.