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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on the name Caitlin / Cait?

32 replies

colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 15:49

Just curious on what your thoughts are for the name Caitlin / Cait. Don't like the nickname "Caitie" or "Caity" much though.

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passthemustard · 27/09/2020 11:31

Just wanted to pipe in again, in 19 years no one has ever miss pronounced my daughters name. (And we pronounce like OP would)
I've been asked how to spell it a few times but I've been asked how to spell my own name and that of my other children and they are all fairly normal names.

Caitlin is a lovely name, that will take your daughter from childhood into adulthood. #teamcaitlin

Pieceofpurplesky · 27/09/2020 11:14

Caitlin is a name that lots of high school
Kids have - there must be at least two in every year here! (North).

MikeUniformMike · 27/09/2020 11:09

I don't like Cate or Cait. Kate is nice.

MikeUniformMike · 27/09/2020 11:05

It was very popular in the early 2000s and always said as Cate-lyn, often spelt Katelyn. The popularity made it seem a bit ordinary.

Tamsin might be an alternative.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2020 10:20

...given it's a Celtic name and I imagine not crazy common in America. Maybe it's the "Tammy-Lynne" kind of Americanism that causes the association though.

Well actually...

It is crazy common in America, and has long eclipsed Tammy-Lynne in popularity. You could say it's the Tammy-Lynne of at least the last two generations.

emilybrontescorsett · 27/09/2020 10:12

No.
It's always mispronounced.
It's also quite common/popular.

LizzieAnt · 27/09/2020 10:10

I don't know would I call it timeless. Caitlin has only been pronounced as Kate Lynn relatively recently. I'm in Ireland and I'd personally include the accent (fada) and pronounce Caitlín like Kathleen. But I admit that outside the country, as well as for many within it now, it's pronounced as you prefer it OP. It's a pretty name, but I'd use the Katelyn spelling for that pronunciation.
At this stage in the evolution of the name, it's down to personal choice though, of course. In fact you'd probably cause confusion by choosing the original pronunciation now, at least outside Ireland.

Justnormajean · 26/09/2020 17:08

It’s a lovely name, timeless.

Allboundformoomooland · 26/09/2020 17:00

It's my name and I'm 41. My parents heard it from it Dylan Thomas's wife's name. Never had it shortened and no one has ever asked if they can shorten it. I've always liked it as a bit different but not too out there.

jellybeans44 · 26/09/2020 16:56

Definitely ignore the association with game of thrones. That character was Cat-lin. Not the same name at all. Caitlin is a beautiful name I love it!

Original poster
colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:40

@NellyJames

I think it was popular about 15-20yrs ago as DD(15) has a few in her year. I’m not keen as it sounds too American for me. I know it isn’t but it’s the lin sound. But then if DS1 had been a girl I wanted to call him Catherine just so I could call him Kate so each to their own! Smile Although this was pre royal wedding etc so I’m glad he was a boy. Grin
I also have a kind of Texan "all-American blonde" association with it but I have no idea why - given that it's a Celtic name and I imagine not crazy common in America. Maybe it's the "Tammy-Lynne" kind of Americanism that causes the association though.
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colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:38

@quarantandrums Aww I'm glad you think so! Definitely read some more negative threads on the name i.e. it being "chavvy" (pardon the elitist expression) or boring. Happy to have some positive reinforcement hahaha!

@Love2cycle That's a glowing review! That more or less cancels out the GOT death association I now have hahaha! x

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NellyJames · 26/09/2020 16:36

I think it was popular about 15-20yrs ago as DD(15) has a few in her year.
I’m not keen as it sounds too American for me. I know it isn’t but it’s the lin sound. But then if DS1 had been a girl I wanted to call him Catherine just so I could call him Kate so each to their own! Smile Although this was pre royal wedding etc so I’m glad he was a boy. Grin

Love2cycle · 26/09/2020 16:36

One of my loveliest, prettiest, happiest friends is called Caitlin. So it has good vibes for me! It's not shortened.

quarantandrums · 26/09/2020 16:35

Lovely name. I know a few and they all just go by Caitlin.

Original poster
colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:33

[quote SeanCailleach]@colourmeclueless say it the way you like it! I would read it Catleen but I would check.
It's a really strong name.[/quote]
I know there are tons of variants on how people pronounce it - my mum had a variation of the name "Caitlin" and hers was mispronounced too hahaha! If I'm honest I just prefer the sound of "Kate-lin" to "Cotchleen" (which I think is the trad Irish pronunciation?)

Glad you think it's strong though - definitely had a fall in popularity!

@tornadoalley Awww, Lindy sounds precious! I hadn't even thought of that as a nickname!

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tornadoalley · 26/09/2020 16:30

I love it. Have a niece called Caitlin. We also call her Lindy, which is cute too

SeanCailleach · 26/09/2020 16:29

@colourmeclueless say it the way you like it! I would read it Catleen but I would check.
It's a really strong name.

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colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:27

@passthemustard

Catelyn Stark (I'm sure they pronounce it Cat-Lin) gets horribly murdered at the red wedding. 😬
Aw fantastic! That's a pleasant association hahahaha
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passthemustard · 26/09/2020 16:22

Catelyn Stark (I'm sure they pronounce it Cat-Lin) gets horribly murdered at the red wedding. 😬

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colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:17

@londongirl12 Very cool! Is she a relatively likeable / interesting character? Might start watching GOT though I'm very late on it, that's definitely an interesting push haha!

@Kanaloa I get that, I'm just a bit sentimental towards the idea of a little personal nickname in the family honestly!

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Kanaloa · 26/09/2020 16:14

Most Caitlins I’ve met are just called Caitlin. I think it’s a nice name and wears well from baby to adult.

londongirl12 · 26/09/2020 16:12

@londongirl12

Yes one of the main characters. They shorten her name to Cat (I'm sure not spelled like that!)
Spelt
londongirl12 · 26/09/2020 16:12

Yes one of the main characters. They shorten her name to Cat (I'm sure not spelled like that!)

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colourmeclueless · 26/09/2020 16:10

@londongirl12 Not seen GOT (I know, shoot me) - is there a character called Caitlin on there?

@passthemustard Kitty's a very cute nickname. I like the idea of a name that has adult connotations but you can still make childlike nicknames! x

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