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Baby names

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

Original poster

Caitlin or Katelyn

84 replies

RosaLuxembunting · 25/06/2008 14:20

Thoughts please.
I know what I think.

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Turniphead1 · 25/06/2008 17:35

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fishie · 25/06/2008 17:24

all the katharine type names get wildly varied spellings (i am one too)

actually, as a person with a th in my name, i have noticed that irish people tend to pronounce it 't' anyway, not sure whether this is a general accent thing or to do with the irish version of the name.

WinkyWinkola · 25/06/2008 15:21

Caitlin every time. Katelyn looks like a teenager has played with the letters. YOu know, Nik instead of Nick... . .

belgo · 25/06/2008 15:21

Turnip head - I would raise an eyebrow at Neve and Shivon as spellings, but Katelyn I find quite pretty and simple.

nooka · 25/06/2008 15:18

Well according to Beyond the name, Katelyn is a variant of Caitin, which is the anglisized form of CAITLÍN (sorry about the caps, just trying to keep the accent) which is the Irish form of Cateline, which is the old French form of Katherine.

Interesting how names evolve!

Turniphead1 · 25/06/2008 15:17

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Miaou · 25/06/2008 15:09

oooh I didn't know that Turniphead!

I have a Caitlin. We do however know a couple of Kaitlins (though not Katelyn).

At christmas Caitlin got christmas cards with seven different spellings of her name on them

Turniphead1 · 25/06/2008 15:06

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RusselBrussel · 25/06/2008 15:04

Caitlin definately. It is a real name, whereas katelyn makes you look like one of those parents who adapt perfectly good names to make their child look 'special'

ninja · 25/06/2008 14:54

Thanks Turniphead - a far more comprehensive and accurate answer.

ninja · 25/06/2008 14:53

It is the Gaelic for Kathleen - but it's pronounced a bit differently isn't it? More like Kat'leen?

Turniphead1 · 25/06/2008 14:52

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ANorfolkBroad · 25/06/2008 14:50

Caitlin

ANorfolkBroad · 25/06/2008 14:50

Caitlin

TheFallenMadonna · 25/06/2008 14:48

Pronounced Kathleen or Katelyn?

egypt · 25/06/2008 14:46

i have a caitlin

cluttercup · 25/06/2008 14:39

Caitlin

Izzywhizzy · 25/06/2008 14:38

Definately Caitlin

MadBadandDangeroustoKnow · 25/06/2008 14:38

Yes, I always thought that the name Caitlin was actually Kathleen, in the original Gaelic spelling. So it isn't 'Kate-Lynn' at all, however you choose to spell it.

belgo · 25/06/2008 14:37

Technically Katelyn is probably correct as Caitlin should be pronounced Kathleen, as other posters have said.

But I prefer Caitlin pronounced Katelyn. It's what I'm used to.

wessexgirl · 25/06/2008 14:37

I had no idea it was ever not spelled Caitlin, but found out today when a birthday invitation arrived in the post for dd2.

I thought 'Who's Katelyn????'

It took ages to dawn on me.

TheFallenMadonna · 25/06/2008 14:35

Well, the Caitlin I know pronounces her name rather like Kathleen, so Katelyn wouldn't really do it.

AtheneNoctua · 25/06/2008 14:26

Caitlin

Original poster
RosaLuxembunting · 25/06/2008 14:24

Thanking you most kindly for that unanimous vote. Am biting my tongue HARD today, but I had to find out if I was alone in my opinion. Seems not.

OP posts:
fishie · 25/06/2008 14:23

i think that caitlin was originally pronounced kathleen so katelyn is actually more accurate.