Caitlin vs Ella
Caitlin and Ella compared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Caitlin was ranked #96 and Ella #7 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Ella #9 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Ella #12 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Caitlin was ranked #78 and Ella #14 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Ella #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Ella #46 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Ella over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Caitlin and Ella over time
Caitlin and Ella appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caitlin in 0.
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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Ella 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 2002, Ella moved ahead of Caitlin in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #19 the year before became #15 and #11.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Caitlin and Ella averaged 31.1 places apart, ending at #96 and #7.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Ella were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #46.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #56 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #46.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1980–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ella in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Ella #3 in 2007.
The order changed in 2002: Ella moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #34 and #48; by 2002 that had become #38 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Ella #17.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Ella in 27.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Ella #6 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Ella #46.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ella in 16.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Ella #2 in 2015.
The order changed in 2009: Ella moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #18 and #20; by 2009 that had become #29 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Ella #12.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1993–2014
Caitlin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ella in 12.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Ella #1 in 2007.
The order changed in 2002: Ella moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #11 and #12; by 2002 that had become #12 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Caitlin #96, Ella #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1998–2013
Caitlin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ella in 12.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Ella #2 in 2007.
The order changed in 2002: Ella moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #12 and #19; by 2002 that had become #15 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Caitlin #78, Ella #14.
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
Other comparisons involving Ella
Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #2788.
Ella · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #2278.
Ella · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #1079.
Ella · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Caitlin | Ella |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Germanic, diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | /ˈɛl.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Ella is recorded with a Germanic, diminutive form origin.
- Caitlin and Ella both have 2 syllables.
- Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Ella's — see the table above for each.
- 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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls