Girls' name · since 1985
Caitlen
Since 1985, U.S. Social Security records show 383 babies named Caitlen, peaking in 1998. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #13,868 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 383
- born since 1985
- 1990s
- peak decade
383 girls have been named Caitlen since 1985, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Caitlen has 383 recorded births among girls since 1985, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1990s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1985 to 2009.
- #13,868 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 383 born since 1985
- 1990s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Caitlen ranks #13,868 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 383 born since 1985, peaking in the 1990s.
- #13,868 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 383
- born since 1985
- 1990s
- peak decade
Caitlen's 383 recorded births place it above 80.8% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by California.
Caitlen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Caitlen's full recorded timeline at 1997, 47% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 53% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 2006, with just 6 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1998 peak of 34 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Caitlen popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1985–2009
- Peak year (1998)
- 34
- Annual births at peak, across 25 years of records
Caitlen by decade
1990s is the heaviest window (207 births, 54% of the file).
1990s was Caitlen's strongest decade.
207 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 54% of all-time use.
Caitlen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 68
1980s
68 births
- 1990s
1990s
207 births
- 2000s
2000s
108 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 207 births (54% of all-time use).
Caitlen by state
Where Caitlen concentrates geographically, total births since 1985
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 11 | 2.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 6 | 1.6% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 5 | 1.3% |
11 of 383 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Caitlen most popular? ▼
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What to do with Caitlen's data
- Caitlen's usage has stayed within range of its 1990s decade-level peak (207 total births) through the 2000s (108) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Caitlens (11 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Caitlen
Nearby Names Like Caitlen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Caitlen
Compare Caitlen side by side: Caitlen vs Caitlin Caitlen vs Caitlyn Caitlen vs Cailyn
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Caitlen: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1998)
Similar record span (~24 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1985–2009 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Caitlen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.