History of the Irish Name of Caitlin
The lovely Irish name Caitlin is a 20th century version of the Gaelic Cateline and can be found in the mythology and history of Ireland.
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Meaning and Origins
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The meaning of Caitlin is "pure" or "innocent." Beginning in ancient Greece as Aikaterina or Katerina, later generations of the name passed through Rome and France as Catherine or Katherine before arriving in Ireland. Another well-known Irish version is Kathleen.
Pronunciations and Spellings
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The name is pronounced "Cotch-LEEN" in Irish, "KAHT-leen" in British English and "KATE-lynn" in American English.
Variations in spelling include: Caitlín, Caitlan, Caitlyn, Caitlynn, Catelyn, Kaitlin, Katelyn.
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Irish Mythology
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According to Rosalind Elizabeth Clark's book on great queens of Ireland, one mythological Caitlín may have been the wife of Balor, a one-eyed warrior who fought for domination of Ireland.
Irish Drama
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In 1902, Irish poet-playwright W. B. Yeats presented the one-act play "Caitlín Ní hUallacháin" (Cathleen ni Houlihan), in which Caitlin is a representation of Mother Ireland, symbol of Irish nationalism, in her struggle for freedom from British colonial rule.
French History
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The French inspiration for Caitlin is believed to be St. Catherine of Alexandria, who was executed by Roman Emperor Maximinus in the fourth century A.D. for personally chastising him for his persecution of Christians. She is believed to be one of the saints divinely appointed as an adviser to Joan of Arc.
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References
Resources
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