Caitlyn

Caitlyn is a slight respelling of the Irish Caitlín, which is the Celtic equivalent of Catherine. The name was brought to the British Isles in the Middle Ages by way of the Norman French version, Cateline. All the Catherine names originated from the Greek “Aikaterinë” (see Catherine) which translates to “pure one, clear, innocent.” The name was borne by an early saint who was martyred in Egypt and came to be associated with courage and purity, qualities that were attractive to the Celts. In Ireland, the Celtic version, Caitlín, proved popular and gave rise to the anglicized version of C/Kathleen in England. The Irish legend of the Countess Cathleen was recounted by the Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats in an 1892 dramatic poem, “The Countess Cathleen”. During a famine, the beautiful and fair-haired young countess offered her soul to the devil in exchange for food for the starving. Upon her death, when the devil came to collect his due, God interceded so Cathleen could go straight to heaven. He was so impressed that she would not only sacrifice her life, but her very salvation, for others. Caitlin (the traditional spelling) is by far the most popular rendition of this name on the other side of the pond. It’s a top ranked female name in Northern Ireland and Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland and Australia. The United Stated and Canada prefer the spelling Kaitlyn with a “K”.