Caitlin vs Fiadh
Caitlin and Fiadhcompared 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 · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Fiadh #3 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Fiadh #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Fiadh #72 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Fiadh #374 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Fiadh over time
Caitlin and Fiadh appear together in 3 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Fiadh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caitlin 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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fiadh 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Fiadh moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2016 as Caitlin fell out of it to #79, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Fiadh moved ahead of Caitlin in Northern Ireland · Girls — #39 and #52 the year before became #79 and #34.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Fiadh in 12.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Fiadh #1 in 2021.
The order changed in 2014: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #73 and #82; by 2014 that had become #91 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Fiadh #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2008–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Fiadh in 9.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #18 in 2008, Fiadh #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2016: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #39 and #52; by 2016 that had become #79 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Fiadh #3.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2013–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Fiadh in 5.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #114 in 2013, Fiadh #355 in 2021.
The order changed in 2020: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #458 and #1063; by 2020 that had become #525 and #460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Fiadh #374.
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 | Fiadh |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Carries dual meanings in Modern Irish: 'wild, wild animal, deer' (from Irish 'fia'), or alternatively 'respect'. |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Irish (modern) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | /ˈfʲiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Fiadh is recorded with a Irish (modern) origin.
- Caitlin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Fiadh.
- Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Fiadh's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Fiadh
Popularity journey
First recorded2002
First recorded at #620 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 2002 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 2002–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls