Aimee vs Caitlin
Aimee 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 1993, Aimee was ranked #87 and Caitlin #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Aimee was ranked #92 and Caitlin #30 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Aimee was ranked #179 and Caitlin #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aimee was ranked #885 and Caitlin #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Aimee was ranked #541 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aimee was ranked #1603 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Aimee and Caitlin over time
Aimee and Caitlin appear together in 4 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Aimee in 1.
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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Aimee in none. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Caitlin moved ahead of Aimee in New Zealand · Girls — #63 and #64 the year before became #56 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aimee and Caitlin changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #179 and #119.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Aimee and Caitlin averaged 30.4 places apart, ending at #179 and #119.
- Longest-running competitions
Aimee and Caitlin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1977 to 2025, ending at #885 and #247.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Aimee #45 in 1998, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #70 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #1603 and #610.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1977–2025
Aimee held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Caitlin in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #46 in 2005, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order changed in 2025: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #275 and #342; by 2025 that had become #885 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aimee #885, Caitlin #247.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aimee held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Caitlin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #47 in 2004, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aimee #1603, Caitlin #610.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aimee held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Caitlin in 24.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #9 in 2004, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aimee #179, Caitlin #119.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1989–2006
Aimee held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Caitlin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Aimee #45 in 1998, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 1991: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #63 and #64; by 1991 that had become #56 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Aimee #92, Caitlin #30.
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 | Aimee | Caitlin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant of Amy, influenced by the French Aimée, carrying associations of love ('beloved'). | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. |
| Origin | French, cognate with Amy | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.mi/ | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amy, Aimée | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Aimee is recorded with a French, cognate with Amy origin, while Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin.
- Aimee and Caitlin both have 2 syllables.
- Aimee's recorded meaning differs from Caitlin's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Aimee a "high" Data Confidence level and Caitlin a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aimee
Popularity journey
First recorded1977
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1977 — 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: #9 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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