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Baby names

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Original poster

Caitlin or Kaitlyn?

67 replies

Bsaunders4231 · 29/05/2022 18:05

I do like Caitlin better personally just because it’s more classic and but my husband prefers Kaitlyn because it’s more modern. Are Caitlin and its variations too dated to be used now?

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KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 20:13

I don't hate it, @JenniferBarkley - what I feel strongly about is that if you want to use a name that's gone mainstream, you have to put up with the mainstream pronunciation from a lot of people.

Examples of names I wouldn't use are Enid, Rhiannon and Orla, because the Eenid, Ree-annun and Awla versions sound ugly to me. The names are lovely said the original way

I think Caitlin is a pretty name and I had always thought it was said as KAD-leen (d very nearly t) until suddenly the name seemed to be used a lot.

JenniferBarkley · 06/09/2023 19:48

I know you hate neev for Niamh @KirstenBlest but honestly it's fine. I'm sure a native speaker will come along to correct or corroborate,I suspect it's dialect but also just Irish people speaking quickly as we are wont to do! See also shleev for sliabh.

Oblomov23 · 06/09/2023 19:28

K is awful. Like someone can't spell.

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 19:12

Thanks @JenniferBarkley . I think it's one of those names that the anglicised pronunciation is now mainstream, like Neev for Niamh.
Caitlin was very popular around here about 20 years ago and although I'm not sure how they all spell it, they all say say it as Katelyn.

JenniferBarkley · 06/09/2023 18:59

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 18:50

@JenniferBarkley , what is the irish pronunciation, please?
I found this on the web
"... Irish parents wouldn’t pronounce it “Kate-lyn”... They’d pronounce it more like “Kat-leen”. (Or perhaps even “Koyt-leen” or “Kotch-leen”, depending on what part of Ireland they’re from.)"

Yes this is direct. Cotch- coytch- and catch-leen all used depending on dialect and whether there's a fada on the a.

LauderSyme · 06/09/2023 18:56

Caitlin is much nicer. Or Catling as my spell check would have it!

KirstenBlest · 06/09/2023 18:50

@JenniferBarkley , what is the irish pronunciation, please?
I found this on the web
"... Irish parents wouldn’t pronounce it “Kate-lyn”... They’d pronounce it more like “Kat-leen”. (Or perhaps even “Koyt-leen” or “Kotch-leen”, depending on what part of Ireland they’re from.)"

JenniferBarkley · 06/09/2023 18:41

Again, I know the battle is lost but nonetheless I'm going to make another plea that you don't use the Irish spelling unless you also use the Irish pronunciation.

hcarter8 · 06/09/2023 18:40

Oops sorry ignore this I was meant to make a thread!

avocadotofu · 06/09/2023 18:39

Definitely Caitlin, it's a lovely classic spelling.

hcarter8 · 06/09/2023 18:38

Caitlin, Kaitlyn or Katelyn?

Im due soon and still struggling on picking a girls name, I think the spelling Caitlin looks very classic and timeless but Dh likes the Katelyn or Kaitlyn spelling. I'm also concerned if it would sound too dated these days? I personally think the original spelling will stand the test of time but not keen on the spellings Dh likes, they seem very American.
Thoughts?

EinyLinky · 26/08/2023 19:48

See, I actually like Katelyn 😂 but out of those 2, Caitlin

user1492757084 · 26/08/2023 07:23

Caitlin

0000000Q1 · 25/08/2023 21:41

Caitlin is the original spelling. Kaitlyn is just an artificial mispeling so I prefer Caitlin.

Elizabethdelver11 · 31/05/2022 18:07

Caitlin is the classic timeless spelling. Kaitlyn is the modern version that will probably be misspelled a lot

Anotherusernamethisweek · 31/05/2022 16:32

As most people are saying I prefer Caitlin.

I have a Caitlin, she's 20! (As mentioned up thread 🤣)

I still think it's a lovely name and transitions well from child to adult. Not had too many problems with spellings tbh.

MushyPeasPrincess · 31/05/2022 16:27

Love Caitlin, I'm Scottish and there's a fair few little ones called that around here and it's so pretty. One is pronounced correctly @mathanxiety as she has a southern Irish grandmother who came over and taught us all how to say it. She was too fearsome to disobey Grin

The K spelling is ... not pretty.

LizzieAnt · 31/05/2022 16:16

No, Oilbhe isn't really used,@KirstenBlest, though it is listed as an alternative spelling of the old Irish name Ailbhe which is quite popular.

Doesn't darkgreener just do England and Wales? I guess popular Irish names would show up there too though.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 31/05/2022 16:04

Definitely Caitlin

JenniferBarkley · 31/05/2022 15:57

I've never seen Oilbhe before. It would be Il-va wouldn't it, rather than Olivia?

KirstenBlest · 31/05/2022 13:05

Is Oilbhe much used (in Ireland)? I looked on darkgreener and it resulted in no chart, which given how popular Olivia is surprised me

KirstenBlest · 31/05/2022 13:01

It's been discussed on many threads @Justkeeppedaling .
It doesn't really make any difference.

What it boils down to is ignorance or disregard for the irish language.

Justkeeppedaling · 31/05/2022 12:46

Libertaire · 29/05/2022 23:14

If you’re going to use a traditional Irish name, please, please spell it correctly. It’s Caitlin. Not Kaitlyn, Kaytlyn, Caytlin or any other made-up chavvy nonsense.

It's also not pronounced "Kate-lin" in Irish.
Bit that's for another thread.

Cryingintherain99 · 31/05/2022 12:43

I have always really liked Caitlin, but wouldn't spell it any other way.

There were lots of Caitlins and Kaitlyns 23 years ago when I had my first baby, and quite a few Caitlyns and Kaitlins too.

pinklavenders · 31/05/2022 09:29

Caitlin nickname Cait

Katelyn nickname Kate