Catherine in Irish: Caitlin
The Irish form of Catherine is Caitlin, a girl's name meaning “pure, clear.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Caitlin
- Meaning
- Pure, clear
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Cathleen
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 273 for girls (2025)
How do you say Catherine in Irish?
Catherine in Irish is Caitlin, pronounced KOIT-leen. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. It can also be said KATH-leen. Other spellings: Cathleen.
What does Caitlin mean?
Caitlin means “pure, clear.” Catherine is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Caitlin: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Catherine in Ireland?
In 2025, 15 baby girls in Ireland were named Catherine, which made it No. 273 that year. That's down from No. 172 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1964, when 1412 baby girls were named Catherine, No. 2 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 1412 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | No. 273 |
| 2024 | 20 | No. 213 |
| 2023 | 12 | No. 316 |
| 2022 | 14 | No. 304 |
| 2021 | 25 | No. 190 |
| 2020 | 29 | No. 165 |
| 2019 | 22 | No. 221 |
| 2018 | 44 | No. 124 |
| 2017 | 28 | No. 184 |
| 2016 | 27 | No. 187 |
| 2015 | 33 | No. 172 |
| 2014 | 44 | No. 133 |
| 2013 | 55 | No. 112 |
| 2012 | 48 | No. 126 |
| 2011 | 56 | No. 113 |
| 2010 | 37 | No. 169 |
| 2009 | 52 | No. 126 |
| 2008 | 62 | No. 106 |
| 2007 | 52 | No. 114 |
| 2006 | 57 | No. 99 |
| 2005 | 67 | No. 83 |
| 2004 | 91 | No. 64 |
| 2003 | 72 | No. 71 |
| 2002 | 91 | No. 58 |
| 2001 | 94 | No. 54 |
| 2000 | 80 | No. 60 |
| 1999 | 89 | No. 51 |
| 1998 | 78 | No. 51 |
| 1997 | 182 | No. 34 |
| 1996 | 181 | No. 35 |
| 1995 | 214 | No. 26 |
| 1994 | 230 | No. 24 |
| 1993 | 280 | No. 19 |
| 1992 | 277 | No. 20 |
| 1991 | 282 | No. 19 |
| 1990 | 325 | No. 17 |
| 1989 | 352 | No. 15 |
| 1988 | 339 | No. 17 |
| 1987 | 346 | No. 16 |
| 1986 | 394 | No. 14 |
| 1985 | 435 | No. 14 |
| 1984 | 498 | No. 7 |
| 1983 | 484 | No. 12 |
| 1982 | 535 | No. 10 |
| 1981 | 535 | No. 8 |
| 1980 | 633 | No. 4 |
| 1979 | 618 | No. 4 |
| 1978 | 628 | No. 4 |
| 1977 | 693 | No. 3 |
| 1976 | 645 | No. 3 |
| 1975 | 682 | No. 3 |
| 1974 | 751 | No. 2 |
| 1973 | 785 | No. 2 |
| 1972 | 853 | No. 2 |
| 1971 | 914 | No. 2 |
| 1970 | 939 | No. 2 |
| 1969 | 1007 | No. 2 |
| 1968 | 1082 | No. 2 |
| 1967 | 1086 | No. 3 |
| 1966 | 1279 | No. 2 |
| 1965 | 1351 | No. 3 |
| 1964 | 1412 | No. 2 |
Caitlin in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Caitlin, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- TTinne, holly
- LLuis, rowan
- IIodhadh, yew
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Catherine
Questions about Catherine
- What is Catherine in Irish?
- The Irish form of Catherine is Caitlin, pronounced KOIT-leen. Caitlin means “pure, clear.”
- How do you pronounce Caitlin?
- Caitlin is pronounced KOIT-leen. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Catherine a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Catherine is a girl's name.
- How popular is Catherine in Ireland?
- In 2025, Catherine was No. 273 for girls in Ireland, with 15 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1964, at No. 2.