Given name

Cailin

“a young woman; a lass”

Cailin is used as a given name. One interpretation is “a young woman; a lass.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

One interpretation is “a young woman; a lass.”

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1968. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Cailin through the years

Babies since 1880
3,743
30 boys · 3,713 girls
Most popular year
1998
169 babies
2025
7
#12,153 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
−50%
Cooling
0255075100198020002025Highest share 19984.4
Cailin in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1968–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 12,153 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 50.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 164 in 2003. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,587 as a first name in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Cailin’s family of names

Cailin has a related form in Cailyn. Cailin has a related form in Caylin. Cailin has a related form in Caelan.

Walk Cailin’s family in the name graph

CailinCailynCaelanCaelynCaylinCaelinCaolanCaileanCaileenCaillinCailinn

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 10

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

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Similar names

If you love Cailin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Gaelic · Modern

Kayley

Kayley is a feminine given name.

31RareCooling

>99% girls

Scottish · Modern

Catriona

“one who is pure; virginal”

0Not recently recordedCooling

>99% girls

Gaelic · Modern

Maclaine

“the son of John's servant”

19Very rareRising fast

>99% girls

Gaelic · Modern

Aibhilin

“of the shining light”

0Not recently recorded

>99% girls

Gaelic · Modern

Kevina

“a beautiful and beloved child” · “a beloved and handsome man”

0Not recently recorded

>99% girls

Gaelic · Modern

Mhairi

Mhairi is a feminine given name from Scottish Gaelic.

0Not recently recorded

>99% girls

Gaelic · Modern

McKayla

“a fiery woman”

32RareCooling

>99% girls

Welsh · Modern

Cassidy

“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”

60FamiliarEasing

7% boys · 93% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Cailin’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Cailin