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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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MadameMinimes · 30/05/2022 10:15

Caitlin is lovely.

I would assume it’s pronounce Cat leen unless told otherwise. Although, I know few teenage Caitlins pronounced like Kate-lin.

KirstenBlest · 30/05/2022 10:38

Not dialect, it's how the language works.

Orla in an irish accent is nice enough, but I'd guess that many of the little Orlas in mainland GB will not even know that you are meant to sound the R

Fivebeanchilli · 30/05/2022 11:35

Definitely Caitlin.
I wouldn't say that it's aged or that Kaitlyn is modern.
Caitlin looks relatively timeless.
Kaitlyn is the one that is / will be dated.

muddyford · 30/05/2022 13:19

Caitlyn. Kaitlyn looks as though someone can't spell.

ColadhSamh · 30/05/2022 13:33

Cáitlín is the correct spelling with fadas over the a and 2nd i. My aunt was Cáitlín, sometimes called Cáit, and hated the Anglicisation of her name. She said it was rude and disrespectful. Pronunciation 'cawchtleen' 'cawcht'

Crikeyalmighty · 30/05/2022 13:39

I don't like Americanised or made up kind of names at all but then I'm a snob about names if I'm honest
Caitlin is fine though -

LittleBearPad · 30/05/2022 13:41

Kaitlyn isn’t more modern - it’s naff.

dollybird · 30/05/2022 14:23

How is Orla correctly pronounced?

KirstenBlest · 30/05/2022 14:43

@dollybird , Orr-la
www.howtopronounce.com/orla

mathanxiety · 30/05/2022 20:02

Those complaining about the 'Americanised' Katelyn vs. the 'classic' or 'correct' Caitlin are getting it wrong.

Both of the spellings, and the pronunciation too, are anglicised, and therefore neither of them is correct and they're all equally wrong for the same reason.

Complaints about the so called American version Kaitlyn are missing the point. Caitlin is completely wrong too.

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/05/2022 22:47

JenniferBarkley · 29/05/2022 23:27

Well I'm Irish so I'll say that Caitlin pronounced Kate-Lynn is the modern, made up, cre8iv, chavvy name as it should only be pronounced cotchleen, coytchleen or cotchlinn depending on the accents used in the spelling and your dialect.

I know, I know, the battle is lost. But I'll still stamp my feet about it like my parents using train station names from 40 years ago.

Well you are right but the Kate-lin pronunciation is much nicer than the traditional ones, which are uncomfortably close to crotch.

Progress is all bad..

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/05/2022 22:48

ISN’T all bad..

Luredbyapomegranate · 30/05/2022 22:49

JenniferBarkley · 30/05/2022 10:10

I think Niamh as nee-uv vs neev is dialect rather than one being wrong?

Similarly Orla as Awla is just that person's accent. I admit I don't like it, but if people don't pronounce their Rs they're not going to start for one name. My DD's name ends in -ing. I live in NI so lots of people say een. I don't love it but I'm not going to correct it because it's not wrong.

I have only ever heard it as Neev (in NI)

mathanxiety · 31/05/2022 00:51

It's not progress to disregard the correct pronunciation of a name in another language because it reminds you of a word in the language you speak.

...........
The diphthong IA in Irish should always be pronounced EE-uh. Some accents emphasise the EE sound and lose the schwa. But the preference for the EE sound is seen in NI English too, in words ending with -ing and probably others.

greenteafiend · 31/05/2022 01:06

Caitlin pronounced "kayt-lin" is now a different name to the Irish name Caitlin pronounced "catchleen (according to the English spelling system). The English name may originally have been inspired by the Irish name, but it has gone off in its own direction. That's how language works. It's silly to get worked up about it.

My family is bilingual and so are more of the families I know (not in Irish, in English and another language). It's accepted that words are pronounced differently in the two languages.

Theoldwoman · 31/05/2022 01:35

One hundred per cent Caitlin. The rest are just a made up version.

I much prefer KATE though.

mathanxiety · 31/05/2022 04:30

The English name may originally have been inspired by the Irish name

No, it wasn't 'inspired'. The English name is a flat out mispronunciation of the Irish name.

And that is why people moaning about Caitlin vs. Katelyn are just being snobby about all things American, and also hilariously lacking in awareness of the origin of the name pronounced Kate-lin, namely ignorance of the Irish language.

One version is not more correct than the other. They are both equally corruptions of the original.

pinklavenders · 31/05/2022 09:29

Caitlin nickname Cait

Katelyn nickname Kate

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.

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.

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.

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

JenniferBarkley · 31/05/2022 15:57

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

Blowyourowntrumpet · 31/05/2022 16:04

Definitely Caitlin

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.