Brooke vs Caitlin
Brooke 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 2008, Brooke was ranked #83 and Caitlin #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Brooke was ranked #82 and Caitlin #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #192 and Caitlin #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #207 and Caitlin #333 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Brooke was ranked #213 and Caitlin #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #313 and Caitlin #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Brooke and Caitlin over time
Brooke and Caitlin appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brooke in 2.
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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Brooke 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, Brooke moved ahead of Caitlin in England and Wales · Girls — #53 and #34 the year before became #42 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brooke and Caitlin changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1989 and 2014, ending at #82 and #96.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Brooke and Caitlin averaged 16.4 places apart, ending at #83 and #50.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Brooke #14 in 1998, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brooke held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Caitlin in 12.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #39 in 2009, Caitlin #21 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Brooke moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #53 and #34; by 2008 that had become #42 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brooke #313, Caitlin #610.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brooke held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Caitlin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #36 in 2008, Caitlin #2 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brooke #192, Caitlin #119.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1983–2025
Brooke held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Caitlin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #72 in 2010, Caitlin #31 in 2003.
The order changed in 2016: Brooke moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #113 and #97; by 2016 that had become #116 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brooke #213, Caitlin #247.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1989–2014
Brooke held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Caitlin in 10.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #13 in 2001, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Brooke #82, Caitlin #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1987–2008
Brooke held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Caitlin in 14.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #14 in 1998, Caitlin #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 1996: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #15 and #19; by 1996 that had become #18 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Brooke #83, Caitlin #50.
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 | Brooke | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (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); Brooke does not have one recorded yet.
- Brooke and Caitlin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Brooke 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
Brooke
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 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