Meaning: Its source is Aikaterine, a Greek name meaning "Pure."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Popularity: The name Kaitlyn ranked 32nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 1043rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 56th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.

This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists of the 1990s, and has been trending upward in usage ever since.

Narrative: This meaning assumes the source name was derived from the Greek term katharos. However, it may have evolved from Hecate, the name of the Greek goddess of magic. Another possible source is katateinô, the Greek word for torture.

All three meanings might have been associated with St. Aikaterine (Katherine) of Alexandria, who was born a pagan but died as a Christian martyr.