Given name
Katelyn
“one who is pure; virginal”
Katelyn is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Katelyn is a variant of Katherine. In Greek use, Katherine carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1970. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Katelyn is a variant of Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Katelyn through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 134,206
- 157 boys · 134,049 girls
- Most popular year
- 1993
- 5,975 babies
- 2025
- 225
- #1,077 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −54%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 225 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,077 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 53.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 5,975 in 1993. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (30). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 117,578 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.
Katelyn’s family of names
Katelyn has a related form in Katherine. In German usage, Katelyn has a related form in Lynn. In English usage, Katelyn has a related form in Caitlin.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Katelyn
- Katelyn NaconAmerican actressborn 1999
- Katelyn TarverAmerican actress and singer-songwriterborn 1989
- Katelyn Ohashiartistic gymnastborn 1997
- Katelyn RowlandAmerican soccer playerborn 1994
- Katelyn PippyAmerican actressborn 1993
- Katelyn TuohyAmerican long-distance runnerborn 2002
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Katelyn, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kaitlin
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Katia
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Cassidy
“curly-haired girl” · “a clever man”
7% boys · 93% girls
Kiana
“from an ancient family” · “of an ancient family”
>99% girls
Caoilinn
Caoilinn is a feminine given name from Irish.
>99% girls
Tianna
“queen of the fairies”
>99% girls
Casady
Casady is a surname from Irish.
>99% girls