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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Caitlin, Kaitlyn or Katelyn?

37 replies

hcarter8 · 06/09/2023 18:41

I'm 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?

OP posts:
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kiwiandcherries · 08/09/2023 13:36

Definitely Caitlin it's a beautiful name

LlynTegid · 08/09/2023 13:33

Caitlin

margotmargeaux · 07/09/2023 22:37

Theoldwoman · 07/09/2023 22:34

Caitlin.

But one hundred percent prefer Kate. Timeless, classic and elegant!

Exactly this.

I'd keep it simple. Kate.

Theoldwoman · 07/09/2023 22:34

Caitlin.

But one hundred percent prefer Kate. Timeless, classic and elegant!

scrantonelectriccity · 06/09/2023 19:06

Caitlin

The K spelling and the Y in the name looks very American

RoadLess · 06/09/2023 19:05

PosterBoy · 06/09/2023 18:42

Caitlyn

But it’s a ‘very American’ name, OP. It’s an American/Irish-American phonetic mispronunciation of the Irish name Cáitlín, or Caitlín, pronounced Koyt-LEEN, OR Koytch-leen or Kat-leen. It went to the US with Irish migrants, dropped its fadas, got mispronounced, like a lot of immigrant names. Obviously, it’s normalised these days, and has arrived back in Ireland and the UK, but if the Americanness bothers you, either use Cáitlín and pronounce it properly, or use a different name.

ymemanresu · 06/09/2023 18:57

Kaitlyn

KnickerlessParsons · 06/09/2023 18:55

How will you pronounce it? Katelyn and Caitlin have very different pronunciations.

ColleenDonaghy · 06/09/2023 18:52

Another Irish poster saying I'd pronounce Cáitlín as clutch/catch/cotch-leen.

So if you want the Kate Lynn pronunciation I'd go with one of the other spellings.

(Yes, I know, battle lost.)

DavinaTheDreadful · 06/09/2023 18:45

I am Irish and wouldn't pronounce Caitlin like Kate-lin. It's more like Cat-lin or Cat-leen.

Caitlyn is better imo.

Beeswood · 06/09/2023 18:43

Caitlyn

PosterBoy · 06/09/2023 18:42

Caitlyn

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