Katelyn is a feminine given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Caitlín," which itself comes from the old Irish personal name "Caitlín," meaning "pure, chaste." The name has been in use since the Middle Ages and was originally borne by both women and men. Over time, however, it became predominantly associated with females.
The popularity of the name Katelyn rose significantly in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the U.S., the peak popularity for the name was between the years 1997 and 2005 when it consistently ranked among the top 200 names given to baby girls.
In literature, Katelyn is often used as a character's name. For instance, it appears in the popular "Percy Jackson" series of books by Rick Riordan, where it belongs to one of the main characters' sisters. This exposure may have contributed to its increased popularity during that period.
The name Katelyn can also be spelled in several variations such as Caitlyn or Katie Lynn, but its pronunciation and meaning generally remain consistent regardless of spelling. It is often paired with names like Elizabeth or Rose for a fuller sounding moniker, such as Katelyn Elizabeth or Katelyn Rose.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Katelyn has seen varying popularity over time in the United States, with notable fluctuations year by year.
The data shows that Katelyn first appeared as a popular choice in 1986 with 10 births recorded that year. The following year saw an increase to 11 births, and this trend continued into 1988 with another 11 births. However, there was a decrease in popularity in 1989 with only 8 births registered.
The years 1990 to 1995 show a pattern of alternating increases and decreases in the number of births: 10 births in 1990, 12 births in 1992, then decreasing again to 8 births in 1994, followed by 6 births in both 1995 and 1997. After a peak of 10 births in 1999, there was another decrease to 7 births in 2000.
From 2003 onwards, the popularity of the name Katelyn starts to decline significantly: only 6 births were recorded in 2003, and this decreased further to 28 births in 2004. After a brief resurgence with 7 births each year from 2005 to 2006, there was another significant drop to just 5 births in both 2011 and 2013.
In total, over the years for which we have data, there were 157 recorded births of the name Katelyn in the United States. While it once was a popular choice, particularly in the late 80s and early 90s, its popularity has waned considerably in recent years.