Caitlin vs Courtney
Caitlin and Courtneycompared 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 2004, Caitlin was ranked #26 and Courtney #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Caitlin was ranked #30 and Courtney #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Caitlin was ranked #67 and Courtney #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Caitlin was ranked #339 and Courtney #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Courtney #2278 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Courtney over time
Caitlin and Courtney appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Courtney in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Courtney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2001, Caitlin moved ahead of Courtney in England and Wales · Girls — #24 and #22 the year before became #21 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Courtney changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1990 and 2023, ending at #339 and #727.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Courtney were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #2278.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Caitlin #10 in 1998, Courtney #11 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #21 and #12 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #67 and #432.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Courtney in 5.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Courtney #17 in 1998.
The order changed in 2001: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #24 and #22; by 2001 that had become #21 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Courtney #2278.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1990–2023
Caitlin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Courtney in 4.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Courtney #43 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caitlin #339, Courtney #727.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Caitlin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Courtney in 1.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Courtney #12 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #21 and #12; by 1998 that had become #11 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Caitlin #67, Courtney #432.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1987–2004
Caitlin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Courtney in 9.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Courtney #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #12 and #11; by 1998 that had become #10 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Caitlin #26, Courtney #94.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1989–2006
Caitlin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Courtney in 9.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Courtney #8 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #11 and #10; by 1998 that had become #10 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Caitlin #30, Courtney #96.
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 | Courtney |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin and Courtney both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Courtney
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls