Caitlin vs Catherine
Caitlin and Catherinecompared 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 2000, Caitlin was ranked #11 and Catherine #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Caitlin was ranked #11 and Catherine #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Catherine #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Catherine #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Catherine #260 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Catherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Catherine over time
Caitlin and Catherine appear together in 4 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Catherine in 1.
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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Caitlin moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1991 as Catherine fell out of it to #60, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Caitlin moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #64 and #50 the year before became #34 and #60.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Catherine changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Caitlin and Catherine averaged 57.0 places apart, ending at #119 and #227.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Catherine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1967–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Catherine in 27.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Catherine #3 in 1967.
The order changed in 2025: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #213; by 2025 that had become #247 and #273.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Catherine #273.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Catherine in 6.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Catherine #68 in 1996.
The order changed in 2019: Catherine moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #306 and #419; by 2019 that had become #458 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Catherine #594.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Catherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Catherine #22 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Catherine #227.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1989–2001
Caitlin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Catherine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #11 in 1997, Catherine #48 in 1989.
The order changed in 1991: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #64 and #50; by 1991 that had become #34 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Caitlin #11, Catherine #99.
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 | Caitlin | Catherine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Catherine.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Catherine 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
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
Catherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls