Cai vs Niall
Cai and Niallcompared 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 · Boys
In 2023, Cai was ranked #272 and Niall #189 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Cai was ranked #660 and Niall #219 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cai was ranked #664 and Niall #613 among boys in England and Wales.
Cai and Niall over time
Cai and Niall appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Niall held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Cai in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Niall reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Cai 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cai held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Niall in 28.
Highest recorded here: Cai #214 in 2006, Niall #106 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cai #664, Niall #613.
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 Niall
Pairs where Niall shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kenneth vs Niall
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #174.
Kenneth · Niall · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Brian vs Niall
Brian and Niall changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #252 and #244.
Brian · Niall · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Niall
Jason and Niall changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #135 and #244.
Jason · Niall · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Andrew vs Niall
Andrew and Niall changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #106 and #244.
Andrew · Niall · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Cai | Niall |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #664 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cai and Niall both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Cai
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #3795 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #214 among boys in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #664 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Niall
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys