Namewise

Caitlin vs Hayley

Caitlin and Hayleycompared 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 2013, Caitlin was ranked #78 and Hayley #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2014, Caitlin was ranked #96 and Hayley #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Hayley #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Hayley #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Hayley #230 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Hayley #478 among girls in England and Wales.

Caitlin and Hayley over time

Caitlin and Hayley appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Hayley in 2.

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.

Hayley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Caitlin in 1. 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 2013, Caitlin moved ahead of Hayley in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #92 and #51 the year before became #78 and #85.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Caitlin and Hayley changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1989 and 2014, ending at #96 and #100.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Caitlin and Hayley averaged 18.6 places apart, ending at #78 and #85.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caitlin and Hayley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #478.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #66 and #57 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #478.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1977–2025

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Hayley in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Hayley #48 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Hayley #148.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Hayley in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Hayley #57 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Hayley #478.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1987–2013

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Hayley in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Hayley #18 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2013: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #92 and #51; by 2013 that had become #78 and #85.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Caitlin #78, Hayley #85.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Hayley in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Hayley #57 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Hayley #227.

  • New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1989–2014

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Hayley in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Hayley #14 in 1990.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Caitlin #96, Hayley #100.

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.

Other comparisons involving Hayley

Pairs where Hayley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caitlin, Hayley
FieldCaitlinHayley
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/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10088/100
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); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caitlin and Hayley both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Hayley 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

  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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Hayley

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1968

    First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1973–2016

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #478 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls