Ava vs Caoimhe
Ava and Caoimhe compared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #11 and Caoimhe #1110 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Caoimhe #275 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Caoimhe #31 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Caoimhe #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ava and Caoimhe over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ava and Caoimhe over time
Ava and Caoimhe appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caoimhe 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.
Caoimhe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ava 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 2008, Ava moved ahead of Caoimhe in Northern Ireland · Girls — #46 and #31 the year before became #24 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Caoimhe were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #11 and #1110.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1978–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Caoimhe in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Caoimhe #12 in 2003.
The order changed in 2006: Ava moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #18 and #17; by 2006 that had become #6 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Caoimhe #31.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Caoimhe in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Caoimhe #639 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #11, Caoimhe #1110.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Caoimhe in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Caoimhe #25 in 2003.
The order changed in 2008: Ava moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #46 and #31; by 2008 that had become #24 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Caoimhe #70.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ava
Pairs where Ava shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Ava
Ella and Ava changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #17 and #26.
Ella · Ava · 43 shared years, 1981–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ava vs Zara
Ava and Zara both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Zara · 45 shared years, 1978–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Daisy
Ava and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Daisy · 36 shared years, 1985–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Layla
Ava and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Layla · 35 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Caoimhe
Pairs where Caoimhe shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Caoimhe vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2017 they were #64 and #432.
Caoimhe · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Claire vs Caoimhe
In 1997 they stood at #28 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #407 and #70.
Claire · Caoimhe · 23 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Caoimhe
In 1997 they stood at #24 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #391 and #62.
Danielle · Caoimhe · 21 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caoimhe vs Gemma
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #35 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2016 they were #39 and #353.
Caoimhe · Gemma · 19 shared years, 1997–2016 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ava | Caoimhe |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪvə/ | /ˈkiːvʲə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ava is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve origin, while Caoimhe is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Ava and Caoimhe both have 2 syllables.
- Ava's recorded meaning differs from Caoimhe's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Ava
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Caoimhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls