Cailin: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#12,153

among girls · ↓4,490 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Cailin

How common

1 in 229,610

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1998

169 babies

All-time total

3,743

#3,132 all-time among girls

First recorded

1968

in Social Security records

Cailin popularity over time

3,743 babies have been named Cailin since 1968, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	9	–	9	1	–	#4,817
1970s	53	–	53	5	+489%	#5,250
1980s	423	–	423	42	+698%	#1,814
1990s	1,079	13	1,092	109	+158%	#1,161
2000s	1,425	17	1,442	144	+32%	#1,274
2010s	604	–	604	60	-58%	#1,623
2020s (to 2025)	120	–	120	20	-67%	#3,557

The story of Cailin

Cailin is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #12,153 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1968, 3,743 American babies have been named Cailin. Its peak came in 1998, when 169 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cailin stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cailin?

The median living Cailin is about 23 years old; half are between 17 and 30. An estimated 3,700 people named Cailin are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cailin year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	7	#12,153	–	–
2024	14	#7,663	–	–
2023	11	#9,097	–	–
2022	26	#5,047	–	–
2021	20	#5,992	–	–
2020	42	#3,557	–	–
2019	29	#4,675	–	–
2018	33	#4,251	–	–
2017	29	#4,718	–	–
2016	24	#5,487	–	–
2015	50	#3,262	–	–
2014	60	#2,849	–	–
2013	65	#2,686	–	–
2012	81	#2,317	–	–
2011	100	#1,971	–	–
2010	133	#1,623	–	–
2009	115	#1,849	5	#12,764
2008	137	#1,645	–	–
2007	137	#1,623	5	#12,641
2006	132	#1,617	–	–
2005	144	#1,467	–	–
2004	147	#1,416	–	–
2003	164	#1,274	–	–
2002	153	#1,284	7	#8,581
2001	146	#1,315	–	–
2000	150	#1,288	–	–
1995	127	#1,307	–	–
1990	71	#1,940	–	–
1985	39	#2,488	–	–
1980	19	#4,010	–	–
1975	9	#6,024	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cailin, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cailin?

The median living Cailin is about 23 years old. Half of all living Cailins are between 17 and 30 years old.

How many people named Cailin are alive today?

An estimated 3,700 people named Cailin are alive in the United States, based on 3,743 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Cailin in 2025?

Cailin ranked #12,153 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Cailin?

3,743 babies have been named Cailin in the United States since 1968, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cailin most popular?

Cailin peaked in 1998, when 169 newborns received the name.

Is Cailin a boy or girl name?

Cailin is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cailin rising or falling?

Cailin is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Cailin

Names that sound and feel close to Cailin: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cailin with similar names → More names starting with C →