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Baby names

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

Original poster

Caitlyn?

42 replies

shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 19:34

Or is this too common now? I know of 3 others but all around 7/8 now.

not sure of spelling either, considering Caitlyn, Caitlin, Catelyn or Kaitlyn.

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CrawlingInMySkin · 30/01/2011 19:38

I love it, prefer it spelled Caitlyn

orangepoo · 30/01/2011 19:40

I think it is a nice name and personally I would check the ONS data and see which is the most common spelling and use that one. Using the most common spelling ought to mean that fewer people should get the spelling wrong.

Original poster
shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 19:47

Thanks - we just found out we're having a girl :o had a perfect boys name lined up too! DP and I were sounding out girls names to each other today and this is the only one we've remotely agreed on so far. I like it a lot, DP is a bit Hmm as he had his heart set on another name which a good friend of mine has just chosen for her DD, so that one is out of the window.

orangepoo cool name btw, what is the ONS data please?

OP posts:
orangepoo · 30/01/2011 19:50

Office for National Statistics, think gives numbers of babies with each name in each calendar year.

www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=15282

AllieW · 30/01/2011 19:54

Ever since I discovered that this name is traditionally pronounced "Cutcheen" (I think), I've been kind of put off the name. I only know of two under 5 and they're both spelt Katelyn.

LadyintheRadiator · 30/01/2011 19:55

This reply has been deleted

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ValiumSandwichTime · 30/01/2011 19:58

Originally pronounced like Coitchleen I think. But there are different areas in Ireland where the dialect would make the pronounciation different.

If you pick it, I'd go for Caitlin. No y

Although I think Kathleen is nice!

Original poster
shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 21:03

Thanks for the link orange I'll check it out.

Ooh, I don't like those pronunciations....am I royally pissing off the Irish if I insist on Anglicising it to be pronounced as *Kate-lynne"? We don't live in Ireland so i can't see it being a massive issue but I wouldn't want her growing up being told how her name is supposed to be pronounced....or am I over-thinking this? Confused

Crikey, this baby naming lark is tough isn't it? :o

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LadyintheRadiator · 30/01/2011 21:08

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Edmundo · 30/01/2011 21:12

I only like the spelling Caitlin. I'm not overly keen though. How about Evelyn?

Original poster
shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 21:15

Thanks LITR - I love the way it sounds too and it goes really nicely with DP's surname (she'll be getting his as we do intend on getting hitched one day :))

It's definitely on the shortlist...which um, currently consists of the one name.

OP posts:
tassisssss · 30/01/2011 21:15

I would expect it to be spelt Caitlin.

I think it's lovely and not overly common here.

hatwoman · 30/01/2011 21:21

I like it. Have never heard people querying the pronunciation - apart from an Irish friend who once told me she would say it Cat-leen. I love Cait as an abbreviation.

hatwoman · 30/01/2011 21:21

meant to say - Caitlin is the only spelling I like. I actually quite strongly dislike all the others.

hellymelly · 30/01/2011 21:24

It is the irish version of Kathleen,and in parts of Ireland is sounded more like "caushleen" but here I think its familiar enough pronounced as Cait-lin for that not to matter.the only one I know is late 30's by the way.

StarlightPrincess · 30/01/2011 21:26

I like it- but please spell it Caitlin! The others are not nice.

MmeLindt · 30/01/2011 21:27

Caitlin.

Definitely no y.

Original poster
shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 21:30

Thanks for your input everyone :)

Edmundo, I love the name Evelyn but it's a no-go for personal reasons.

OP posts:
RueLaChesty · 30/01/2011 21:30

Caitlin is my preferred spelling too.

It was on my imaginary list for years but then a cousin used it and when we conceived DP refused to use any name already in the extended family, which is a shame as we have massive families and some lovely names.

We also toyed with Cailin, DP was keen but i just thought people would think it was Caitlin but we were being lazy and not pronouncing the T. I love it on paper though.

pointydug · 30/01/2011 21:34

Caitlin. No ys or ks. Makes it horrid

happyeverafterhome · 30/01/2011 21:35

Caitlin is on our shortlist too - love it. Are you having a middle name - its good if you can get a combination that "works" - we're still working on that!

RueLaChesty · 30/01/2011 21:47

happy ever after, my imaginary name was caitlin frances. Does that help?

TallulahdoesthehulainHawaii · 30/01/2011 21:51

It's a lovely name. I know a little girl (am in Ireland) and it is pronounced Kate-lin.

I know of a couple of older ones pronounced the same way, I don't think it would have to be explained.

Definitely has to be spelled Caitlin IMO Smile

Original poster
shinydiscoball · 30/01/2011 22:19

Caitlin Frances is lovely - I don't have a middle name yet, DP thinks middles names should be for someone, i.e. GP's, Godparents etc so not sure yet.

Tallulah, that's reassuring, I imagined conversations with people in the future telling her that her name was "wrong" but I think it's unlikely :)

What else is on your shortlist happyeverafter?

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PlanetLizard · 31/01/2011 00:52

It's OK but I'd be put off by the confusion over how it's pronounced.

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