Pronunciation
Kat-leen / Katch-leen
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Pure (traditional interpretation of Catherine)
Alternate spellings
Kathleen; Caitríona
Fun fact
Caitlín is the Irish form of Catherine. Kathleen is the anglicised spelling, so you might already know this name without knowing its Irish form!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Caitlín, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #443 |
| 2024 | 9 | #412 |
| 2023 | 3 | #856 |
| 2022 | 9 | #420 |
| 2021 | 7 | #517 |
| 2020 | 6 | #544 |
| 2019 | 8 | #457 |
| 2018 | 18 | #255 |
| 2017 | 36 | #154 |
| 2016 | 50 | #121 |
| 2015 | 66 | #97 |
| 2014 | 73 | #91 |
| 2013 | 89 | #73 |
| 2012 | 105 | #64 |
| 2011 | 116 | #65 |
| 2010 | 93 | #75 |
| 2009 | 134 | #53 |
| 2008 | 168 | #46 |
| 2007 | 164 | #44 |
| 2006 | 143 | #46 |
| 2005 | 191 | #34 |
| 2004 | 189 | #34 |
| 2003 | 192 | #31 |
| 2002 | 151 | #38 |
| 2001 | 160 | #34 |
| 2000 | 130 | #40 |
| 1999 | 112 | #41 |
| 1998 | 74 | #54 |
| 1997 | 54 | #98 |
| 1996 | 32 | #155 |
| 1995 | 34 | #141 |
| 1994 | 25 | #171 |
| 1993 | 19 | #204 |
| 1992 | 6 | #391 |
| 1991 | 7 | #365 |
| 1990 | 7 | #357 |
| 1989 | 5 | #408 |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
| 1986 | 7 | #356 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
| 1984 | 3 | #516 |
| 1983 | 3 | #529 |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | 4 | #483 |
| 1979 | 3 | #523 |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1976 | 3 | #497 |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | 3 | #393 |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
