Alyssa vs Caitlin
Alyssa 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Alyssa was ranked #76 and Caitlin #61 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Alyssa was ranked #64 and Caitlin #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #337 and Caitlin #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #171 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alyssa was ranked #325 and Caitlin #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #285 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Alyssa and Caitlin over time
Alyssa and Caitlin appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Alyssa 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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Alyssa 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 2016, Alyssa moved ahead of Caitlin in England and Wales · Girls — #190 and #160 the year before became #198 and #222.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Caitlin in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #144 in 2004, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order changed in 2016: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #190 and #160; by 2016 that had become #198 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #285, Caitlin #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1991–2025
Alyssa held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Caitlin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #172 in 2015, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alyssa #325, Caitlin #247.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Caitlin in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #137 in 2016, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #337, Caitlin #119.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1990–2013
Alyssa held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Caitlin in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #25 in 2004, Caitlin #11 in 2000.
The order changed in 2007: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #34 and #29; by 2007 that had become #32 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alyssa #64, Caitlin #78.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1999–2013
Alyssa held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Caitlin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #37 in 2003, Caitlin #11 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alyssa #76, Caitlin #61.
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 | Alyssa | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Alyssa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alyssa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Caitlin.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Alyssa 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
Alyssa
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 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