Caitlin in Chinese
Caitlin in Chinese is 凯特琳 (Kǎi Tè Lín).
- Origin
- Irish/Greek
- Meaning
- pure
Etymologically, Caitlin is Irish/Greek and is commonly glossed as "pure". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1955 and peaked in 1988. Spellings pronounced the same way include Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin, Caitlyn, which share the transliteration 凯特琳.
3 ways to write Caitlin
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
凯特琳
Kǎi Tè Lín
The standard transliteration of Caitlin: 凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song"), 特 (tè, "special, particular"), 琳 (lín, "beautiful jade"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 3 characters: 凯 kǎi + 特 tè + 琳 lín. The tone contour is 3-4-2 (dipping, falling, rising).
Character breakdown
30 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 特
tè
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
special, particular
- 琳
lín
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
beautiful jade
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
净仪
Jìng Yí
Inspired by "pure": 净 (jìng, "clean, pure") + 仪 (yí, "bearing, grace; ceremony"), expressing purity and clarity.
Why these characters?
The idea of "pure" behind Caitlin is rendered by 净, "clean, pure"; 仪, "bearing, grace; ceremony", completes it.
Character breakdown
13 strokes total (simplified)- 净
jìng
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
clean, pure
- 仪
yí
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
bearing, grace; ceremony
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
凯皎
Kǎi Jiǎo
凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song") + 皎 (jiǎo, "bright white (moonlight)"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 凯 (kǎi), the same opening character as the transliteration 凯特琳, for the "cait" sound, and replaces the rest with 皎 ("bright white (moonlight)") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 皎
jiǎo
Tone 3 · 11 strokes (simplified)
bright white (moonlight)
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 111,283 girls named Caitlin since 1955, with the high point in 1988 (7,245 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #50 to #1421 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1988
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1955
- Total since 1880
- 111,283
More About Caitlin in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Caitlin offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Caitlin, you'll find options that work for you.
Caitlin is also spelled Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Kaitlin and Caitlyn — all spellings share the same Chinese characters.
Names with the same root meaning include Katherine in Chinese, Katie in Chinese, Kathryn in Chinese, Catherine in Chinese, Karen in Chinese, Kathleen in Chinese, Katrina in Chinese, and Kate in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Kaitlyn in Chinese, Katelyn in Chinese, and Kaitlin in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Caitlyn in Chinese, Katherine in Chinese, Katie in Chinese, Kathryn in Chinese, and Catherine in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Caitlin, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Caitlin to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How is Caitlin translated into Chinese?
凯特琳 (Kǎi Tè Lín), or 凱特琳 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Caitlin written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 凯特琳 becomes 凱特琳; the changed characters are 凯→凱. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
How popular is the name Caitlin?
US Social Security records show 111,283 girls named Caitlin since 1955, with the high point in 1988 (7,245 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #50 to #1421 among girls.
Related names and spelling variants
Autumn
奥特姆
English
Caitlyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Catherine
凯瑟琳
Greek
Diana
黛安娜
Latin
Faith
费思
English
Gabriella
加布丽埃拉
Hebrew
Julie
朱莉
Latin
Kaitlin
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Kaitlyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Karen
凯伦
Danish/Greek
Kate
凯特
Greek
Katelyn
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Katherine
凯瑟琳
Greek
Kathleen
凯思琳
Irish/Greek
Kathryn
凯瑟琳
Greek
Katie
凯蒂
Greek
Katrina
卡特里娜
Greek
Kristin
克里斯汀
Greek
Kylie
凯莉
Australian/Irish
Mariah
玛丽亚
Hebrew
Marissa
玛丽莎
Latin
Monica
莫妮卡
Latin/Greek