Ashleigh vs Caitlin
Ashleigh 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 2005, Ashleigh was ranked #87 and Caitlin #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Ashleigh was ranked #72 and Caitlin #25 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Ashleigh was ranked #440 and Caitlin #79 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Ashleigh was ranked #764 and Caitlin #221 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ashleigh was ranked #1819 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashleigh and Caitlin over time
Ashleigh and Caitlin appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ashleigh in 0.
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.
Ashleigh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Caitlin 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 1997, Caitlin moved ahead of Ashleigh in England and Wales · Girls — #58 and #66 the year before became #68 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ashleigh and Caitlin changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1977 and 2021, ending at #764 and #221.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashleigh and Caitlin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1977 to 2021, ending at #764 and #221.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #1819 and #610.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1977–2021
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Caitlin in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #162 in 1995, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ashleigh #764, Caitlin #221.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Caitlin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order changed in 1997: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #58 and #66; by 1997 that had become #68 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashleigh #1819, Caitlin #610.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1987–2005
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Caitlin in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #13 in 1993, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 1994: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #13 and #21; by 1994 that had become #18 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ashleigh #87, Caitlin #24.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1989–2005
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Caitlin in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #8 in 1992, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 1997: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #14 and #23; by 1997 that had become #24 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ashleigh #72, Caitlin #25.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2016
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Caitlin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #87 in 1997, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Ashleigh #440, Caitlin #79.
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 | Ashleigh | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1819 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 53/100 | 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); Ashleigh does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashleigh and Caitlin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Ashleigh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashleigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1819 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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