Katelynn

Katelynn is more of a modern English or Americanized form of Caitlín, which itself is the Irish equivalent of Catherine (although it’s pronounced “cotch-leen” in its Gaelic tongue). Originally, the name Catherine was brought to the British Isles in the Middle Ages by way of the Norman-French version Cateline which was transformed into Caitlín by the Irish. The Catherine family of names all derive from the Greek “Aikaterinë” (see Catherine) which translates to “pure one, clear, innocent.” The name Catherine was borne by an early saint who was martyred in Egypt and came to be associated with ideals of 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 Kathleen in England. Caitlín (sometimes without the accent mark) is currently very popular in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but it is also a Top 75 favorite girl’s name in England, Wales, Australia and Ireland. In the United States, Americans prefer the modernized spellings of this old Irish female name. In fact, American parents have created a bevy of alternate spellings: Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlyn, Katelynn, Kaitlynn and Kaitlin. The specific spelling of Katelynn is given to about 10% of the baby “Caitlins” being born in the U.S.