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.
- #8,990 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 768
- born since 1985
- 1990s
- peak 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.
- #8,990 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 768 born since 1985
- 1990s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kaitlen ranks #8,990 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 768 born since 1985, peaking in the 1990s.
- #8,990 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 768
- born since 1985
- 1990s
- peak decade
Kaitlen's 768 recorded births place it above 87.56% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by California.
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 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
1990s is the heaviest window (365 births, 48% of the file).
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 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% |
33 of 768 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kaitlen? ▼
Where does Kaitlen sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Kaitlen most popular? ▼
Where is Kaitlen most popular? ▼
How long has the name Kaitlen been used? ▼
What names are similar to Kaitlen? ▼
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
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
Compare Kaitlen side by side: Kaitlen vs Kaitlyn Kaitlen vs Kaitlin Kaitlen vs Kailey
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Kaitlen: 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 (~33 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, 1985–2018 (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 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 August 2026.