Gatlin

A familiar Old English name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishDeclining
#888 79in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Gatlin is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a transferred surname possibly derived from a place name or from the obsolete English word for a light spear or arrow. It carries a sharp, outdoorsy Western energy.

Gatlin Brothers, the country music group active from the 1970s through the 1990s, brought the name into Southern American consciousness. As a first name, Gatlin has grown alongside names like Colton, Dalton, and Easton in the modern tradition of rugged, Western-flavored surname names.

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Popularity Over Time

Gatlin climbed 1371 spots in the last 20 years — from #2259 to #888.

09017926935820002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Gatlin
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,547
2010s1,669
2000s612
1990s349
1980s74

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(43 years, 19812024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Gatlin
YearBirthsRank
2024266#888
2023303#809
2022358#725
2021319#777
2020301#779
2019265#847
2018262#847
2017215#965
2016151#1238
2015187#1061
2014158#1180
2013132#1310
2012116#1433
2011104#1528
201079#1841
200984#1792
200887#1746
200768#2040
200663#2087
200583#1641

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Gatlin as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Gatlin has also been given to 40 girls in the U.S. since 2015.

#16045
Current rank
40
Total births
2021
Peak year
Compare Gatlin as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Gatlin be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Gatlin is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #888. As a girl's name, it ranks #16045.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19812024) · Methodology