Abigail vs Caitlin
Abigail and Caitlincompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Abigail was ranked #27 and Caitlin #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Abigail was ranked #33 and Caitlin #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Caitlin #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Caitlin #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Caitlin over time
Abigail and Caitlin appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Abigail in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Abigail moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2010 as Caitlin fell out of it to #62, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Abigail moved ahead of Caitlin in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #43 and #34 the year before became #34 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Caitlin changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #115 and #247.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Abigail and Caitlin averaged 37.9 places apart, ending at #33 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Caitlin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #115 and #247.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #19 in 2000, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1975–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Caitlin in 15.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Caitlin #247.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Caitlin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Caitlin #610.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Caitlin in 18.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order changed in 2020: Abigail moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #73 and #70; by 2020 that had become #59 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Caitlin #119.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1991–2014
Abigail held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Caitlin in 18.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #30 in 2010, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 2010: Abigail moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #43 and #39; by 2010 that had become #30 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Abigail #33, Caitlin #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 2002–2013
Abigail held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Caitlin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Caitlin #15 in 2002.
The order changed in 2008: Abigail moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #43 and #34; by 2008 that had become #34 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Abigail #27, Caitlin #78.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Caitlin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caitlin has a recorded origin (Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Caitlin.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Caitlin
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #393 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls