Total births
768
Girls' name · since 1985
Kaitlen
Since 1985, U.S. Social Security records show 768 babies named Kaitlen, peaking in 1998. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 768
- total births
- 1985–2018
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
Kaitlen is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 768 have been recorded since 1985.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kaitlen has been recorded 768 times among girls since 1985, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1985 to 2018.
- 768 total births
- 1985–2018 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 48% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
768 girls have been named Kaitlen since 1985, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2018.
- 768
- total births
- 1985–2018
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named Kaitlen was born in this single decade.
1998
Single peak year
51 babies were named Kaitlen in 1998 - its busiest year on record.
Kaitlen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Kaitlen's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 36% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 64%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2012, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1998 peak of 51, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Kaitlen at a glance
Last recorded 2018Peak year
1998
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1985
Kaitlen popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1985–2018
- Peak year (1998)
- 51
- Annual births at peak, across 34 years of records
Kaitlen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Kaitlen's strongest decade.
365 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Kaitlen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 125
1980s
125 births
- 1990s
1990s
365 births
- 2000s
2000s
230 births
- 2010s 48
2010s
48 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 365 births (48% of all-time use).
How Kaitlen compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Kaitlen's total volume
Kaitlen vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Kaitlen by state
Where Kaitlen concentrates geographically, total births since 1985
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 33 | 4.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 22 | 2.9% |
California share of Kaitlen's total US births 4.3%
Even split
33 of 768 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kaitlen? ▼
Kaitlen has been given to 768 babies in the U.S. since 1985, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2018. 51 babies were born in 1998, its single highest year.
When was Kaitlen most popular? ▼
Kaitlen was most popular in the 1990s decade with 365 total births. The single peak year was 1998.
Where is Kaitlen most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kaitlen are California (33 births), Texas (22 births).
How long has the name Kaitlen been used? ▼
Kaitlen has been recorded in Social Security data since 1985, spanning 34 years of data through 2018.
What names are similar to Kaitlen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Kaitlyn, Kaitlin, Kailey, Kaia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Kaitlen's data
- Kaitlen's decade-level peak was the 1990s (365 total births); usage has since declined to 48 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Kaitlens (33 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kaitlen
Nearby Names Like Kaitlen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kaitlen
Kaitlyn Girl
#650 166,689 births
Kaitlin Girl
#4931 57,355 births
Kailey Girl
#1285 27,244 births
Kaia Girl
#180 20,909 births
Kaitlynn Girl
#3490 16,419 births
Compare Kaitlen side by side: Kaitlen vs Kaitlyn Kaitlen vs Kaitlin Kaitlen vs Kailey
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1985–2018 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kaitlen: Baby Name Since 1985 - 768 Births, Peak 1998." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kaitlen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Kaitlen 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 June 2026.