Annabel vs Caitlin
Annabel 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 2012, Annabel was ranked #100 and Caitlin #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Annabel was ranked #305 and Caitlin #127 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annabel was ranked #544 and Caitlin #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #351 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #337 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Annabel and Caitlin over time
Annabel and Caitlin appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Annabel 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 3 of those lists, and Annabel 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 2013, Annabel moved ahead of Caitlin in England and Wales · Girls — #109 and #97 the year before became #112 and #114.
- Longest-running competitions
Annabel and Caitlin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #544 and #247.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Annabel #104 in 2002, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1979–2025
Annabel held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Caitlin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #164 in 2014, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order changed in 1997: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #432 and #483; by 1997 that had become #394 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annabel #544, Caitlin #247.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annabel held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Caitlin in 17.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #104 in 2002, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order changed in 2013: Annabel moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #109 and #97; by 2013 that had become #112 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annabel #337, Caitlin #610.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2022
Annabel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Caitlin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #135 in 2013, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Annabel #305, Caitlin #127.
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 | Annabel | 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 | /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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (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); Annabel does not have one recorded yet.
- Annabel has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Caitlin.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Annabel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Annabel
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 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