Namewise

Adelaide vs Caitlin

Adelaide 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Adelaide was ranked #418 and Caitlin #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Adelaide was ranked #541 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Adelaide was ranked #625 and Caitlin #339 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Adelaide was ranked #411 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.

Adelaide and Caitlin over time

Adelaide and Caitlin appear together in 2 published lists, across 37 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Adelaide in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Adelaide held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Caitlin in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Adelaide #347 in 2023, Caitlin #21 in 2001.

    The order changed in 2020: Adelaide moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #475 and #458; by 2020 that had become #486 and #525.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Adelaide #411, Caitlin #610.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 19762023

    Adelaide held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Caitlin in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Adelaide #429 in 1976, Caitlin #73 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2013: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #429 and #497; by 2013 that had become #894 and #73.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Adelaide #625, Caitlin #339.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Adelaide, Caitlin
FieldAdelaideCaitlin
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish, cognate of the wider Katherine family
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈkeɪt.lɪn/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #411 (2024)Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caitlin has a recorded origin (Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family); Adelaide does not have one recorded yet.
  • Adelaide has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Caitlin.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Adelaide doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Adelaide

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #347 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls

Caitlin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls