[name_f]My[/name_f] daughter’s name is [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] All the Anglicized and “yoonique” variations irritate me to no end, although my kid (who’s 40 this year) shrugs it off.
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There are multiple reasons why I chose [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] I babysat a Welsh girl whose name was [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] (pronounced Catlin) and fell in love with it then. [name_f][/name_f] [name_m]Little[/name_m] did I know that a TV show would bounce the name into the Jennifer/Jessica range but with an Ashley/Ashleigh/Ashli vibe.
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[name_f]My[/name_f] great-grandmothers were Sofie-Katarine and [name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Luisa[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]My[/name_f] daughter, in Jewish tradition, was named [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] (Leah Gavriella).
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Because the [name_m]Achille[/name_m] [name_m]Lauro[/name_m] terrorism had just happened, we didn’t want to give her a name that would signal she was Jewish by her passport despite adhering to Jewish tradition when we named her. [name_f][/name_f] I was involved in international publishing and we travelled all the time. [name_f][/name_f] As it turned out, the year we travelled together to the Bologna Book Fair, Americans were told to leave [name_f]Italy[/name_f] because of Reagan’s bombing of Tripoli.
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In her life she’s gone by [name_f]Katie[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], and [name_f]Kitty[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] Currently she prefers [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f].
so fascinating how many spelling variants there are! I’d never personally use the name, it seems very overused with my generation, but I can see the appeal!
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I don’t tend to like too many K names, so my preference will probably be with a C! [name_f][/name_f]looks wise, my favorite is probably [name_f]Catelyn[/name_f], but I’m cheating a bit as I’d actually pronounce that kat-lynn like in GOT[name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]pronounced kate-lynn, I’d probably go with [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f], simply because of Arcane[name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f] I do think the name sounds better in the character’s accent than it does in mine!
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From the list, I find it interesting so many of them are [name_f][/name_f] spelt in a way I’d never guess they were pronounced like [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f]! Anything with a “d” at the end & anything spelt “Cat” or “Kat” because I wouldn’t pronounce them like [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] are some of my least favorites (to be clear, I prefer the sound of cat-lynn, but if someone were named cate-lynn, I’d find it more complicated of a spelling for them!). [name_f]My[/name_f] ultimate least favorites are probably the ones spelt unnecessarily (in my opinion), like any of the ones starting with “Keight,” or the ones with extra letters like Cayetlynne or Kaytelynne!
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I’d never actually use this name as a first name, but if I did it’d be for the nickname “Kit” which I love! [name_f][/name_f]Maybe [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] [name_f]Juniper[/name_f] or [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] [name_f]Hyacinth[/name_f] “Kit” (because this is a hypothetical so I don’t have to focus on the nickname starting with the same letter ) [name_f][/name_f]as a middle, I’d maybe use [name_f]Opal[/name_f] [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] or [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- a first that has a bit more “sparkle” to me to pair with the bit more common [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f]!
I’ve always liked the simplicity of [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f] and the slightly gentle look of [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]. I kind of like [name_f]Kaitland[/name_f] and Caitind too [name_f][/name_f]- but said differently
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I think my least favourite on that list is Catland [name_f][/name_f]- it’s well [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Cat[/name_f] [name_m]Land[/name_m]. Which is fun, but probably not idea to wear. I can imagine Keightlyn and co might get misread as KEET-lin or ‘night-lin’ in people glanced quickly…
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For the bonus, I’ll go with: [name_f]Una[/name_f] [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
I think my favourites are the ‘simple’ ones lol. [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f], [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f], [name_f]Kaitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f]…as long as it’s not outrageous, I can deal with it.
The absolute worst spelling of this name I’ve ever seen was KVIIIlyn (yes, I’m serious). K-eight-lyn, using roman numerals. That poor child.
I love [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] & [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f].
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I dislike most of the other spellings. [name_f][/name_f]Some of these i did not even know existed.[Caitlind/Kateland/ any of the Keigh spellings] [name_f][/name_f]I think the worst was Kayetlind!
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[name_f]My[/name_f] combos would be [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] [name_f]Darcy[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Katelyn[/name_f] [name_f]Erika[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Nicolette[/name_f] [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Nikki[/name_f] [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f]
I’m biased, but [name_f]Kaitlin[/name_f] from a best friend. She’s a namenerd with a lot of cute pets with awesome names and she’s someone who can get me to like any name practically.
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Unpopular opinion: Not a fan of the [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] spelling. I know it’s an OG, but I can’t get over how it’s a mispronounced [name_f]Caitlín[/name_f] (pronounced kat-leen). I’ve seen so many Caitlins of many spellings but yet to meet a [name_f]Katleen[/name_f]. [name_f]Katleen[/name_f] could have been a contender! No but seriously, it reminds me of the non-Irish mom who named her daughter [name_f]Grainne[/name_f] with the intent of pronouncing it “grain” because she saw it, liked it, and assumed how it was pronounced. The internet roasted her for that and I wonder if the same could have happened if the Internet was more advanced during the rise of [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f].
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However it’s not the worst, @GU1[name_f][/name_f] already said it with KVIIIlyn.
The spelling I’d probably use: Katelyn. I like the elegance and straightforwardness of it, and I prefer the look of the K over Catelyn, though I could get behind both spellings.
I also like Caitlin for it’s more authentic origins, though in the Irish language I don’t think it’s pronounced quite the same.
If I were gonna go off the beaten path, something about Katelind/Catelind appeals to me. I love a Lind name (always had a soft spot for Lindsay), but I would definitely pronounce it with a strong d sound at the end and I don’t think that’s quite the same name at that point.
My least favourite spellings would have to be Cayetlan or Keightlynne. There’s just a bit too much going on and I don’t think the complexity adds much. I think for me the appeal of Katelyn is the simple, approachable sound and the complicated spellings chip away at that friendliness.
Combos: Maybe Georgia Katelyn, Caitlin Madelief, or Suvi Katelyn “Sukie”
[name_f][/name_f] I do think the name sounds better in the character’s accent than it does in mine!