Caitlyn in Chinese
Caitlyn in Chinese is 凯特琳 (Kǎi Tè Lín).
- Origin
- Irish/Greek
- Meaning
- pure
The name traces back to Irish/Greek sources, where it is usually explained as "pure". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1968 and peaked in 1998. Spellings pronounced the same way include Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlin, Kaitlin, which share the transliteration 凯特琳.
3 ways to write Caitlyn
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
凯特琳
Kǎi Tè Lín
The standard transliteration of Caitlyn: 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
洁琪
Jié Qí
Inspired by "pure": 洁 (jié, "clean, pure") + 琪 (qí, "fine jade"), expressing purity and clarity.
Why these characters?
洁 (clean, pure) answers the "pure" in Caitlyn's meaning, and 琪 (fine jade) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
21 strokes total (simplified)- 洁
jié
Tone 2 · 9 strokes (simplified)
clean, pure
- 琪
qí
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
fine jade
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
凯净
Kǎi Jìng
凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song") + 净 (jìng, "clean, pure"): 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 净 ("clean, pure") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 净
jìng
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
clean, pure
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 51,547 girls named Caitlyn since 1968, with the high point in 1998 (2,937 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #183 to #1100 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1998
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1968
- Total since 1880
- 51,547
More About Caitlyn in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Caitlyn 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 Caitlyn, you'll find options that work for you.
Caitlyn is also spelled Kaitlyn, Katelyn, Caitlin and Kaitlin — 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 Caitlin in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Kaitlin 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 Caitlyn, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Caitlyn 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
What is Caitlyn in Chinese characters?
凯特琳 (Kǎi Tè Lín), or 凱特琳 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Do Caitlyn and Kaitlyn have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 凯特琳, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.
How many strokes does 凯特琳 have?
30 strokes in simplified form and 34 in traditional; per character: 凯 8, 特 10, 琳 12.
Related names and spelling variants
Abby
艾比
Hebrew
Bella
贝拉
Italian
Caitlin
凯特琳
Irish/Greek
Carrie
凯莉
Germanic
Catherine
凯瑟琳
Greek
Denise
丹妮丝
Greek
Elena
埃琳娜
Greek
Hope
霍普
English
Jordyn
乔丹
Hebrew
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
Liliana
莉莉安娜
Latin
Mikayla
米凯拉
Hebrew
Stacy
斯泰西
Greek