Namewise

Caitlin vs Greta

Caitlin and Gretacompared 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 2010, Caitlin was ranked #28 and Greta #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Greta #790 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #342 and Greta #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Greta #1302 among girls in England and Wales.

Caitlin and Greta over time

Caitlin and Greta appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Greta in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Greta 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 1997, Caitlin moved ahead of Greta in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #488 and #446 the year before became #98 and #576.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Greta in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Greta #516 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Greta #1302.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 19872024

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Greta in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Greta #378 in 2015.

    The order changed in 1997: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #488 and #446; by 1997 that had become #98 and #576.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #342, Greta #736.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Caitlin, Greta
FieldCaitlinGreta
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe.Not yet recorded
OriginIrish, cognate of the wider Katherine familyNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkeɪt.lɪn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)Norway · Girls #373 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caitlin has a recorded origin (Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family); Greta does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caitlin and Greta both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Greta doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Caitlin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Greta

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #79 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #73 among girls in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #373 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls