This American sounding name actually originated in Ireland, and it’s meaning is beautiful

There’s one name that sounds as American as apple pie, but you’d never guess it actually originated from Ireland.

Some Irish names more obviously derive from Gaelic origins. Names like Aoife or Fiadh are gorgeous names for little girls, and their meanings provide a touching tribute .

For boys, one of the most popular Irish names is Liam, though Gael and Aiden are also high up on the list.

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A name that people may not realize is Irish is Caitlin. It’s the Gaelic form of the name Catherine, and it means “pure.”

It also has roots in the Greek word katharos, which means “clear, clean and pure.”

On the Reddit thread r/todayilearned, users said the name Caitlin is not pronounced the same way in Ireland as it is in the US. If using fada in the spelling, it’s pronounced more like Kathleen.

While still a well known name, it reached its highest popularity in the US in 1989. It was the 49th most popular name in the US at the time, remaining in the top 100 for most of the 1990s.

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By the 2000s, less and less parents started naming their babies Caitlin. As of 2023, it was the 2,284th most popular name.

There’s several variations of the name. For a modern twist, you can spell it with a K or Y, like Kaitlyn.

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