Blanaid vs Caitlin
Blanaid 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Blanaid was ranked #413 and Caitlin #15 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2006, Blanaid was ranked #5061 and Caitlin #35 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Blanaid was ranked #764 and Caitlin #46 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Blanaid and Caitlin over time
Blanaid and Caitlin appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Blanaid in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Blanaid reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 1994, Caitlin moved ahead of Blanaid in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #421 and #519 the year before became #502 and #171.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1975–2006
Blanaid held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Caitlin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Blanaid #379 in 1975, Caitlin #34 in 2004.
The order changed in 1994: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #421 and #519; by 1994 that had become #502 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Blanaid #764, Caitlin #46.
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 Caitlin
Pairs where Caitlin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Caitlin vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #2788.
Caitlin · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Caitlin
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Caitlin · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caitlin vs Phoebe
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #65 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #14.
Caitlin · Phoebe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caitlin vs Daisy
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #71 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #18.
Caitlin · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Blanaid | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Girls #413 (2007) | 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); Blanaid does not have one recorded yet.
- Blanaid and Caitlin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Blanaid doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Blanaid
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1965–2006).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2007
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007.
Northern 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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls