Caitlin vs Jennifer
Caitlin and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Caitlin was ranked #14 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Caitlin was ranked #22 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Caitlin was ranked #127 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Jennifer over time
Caitlin and Jennifer appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jennifer 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.
Jennifer 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Caitlin moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1991 as Jennifer fell out of it to #62, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Caitlin moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #33 the year before became #30 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Jennifer changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #247 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #650.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1967–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jennifer in 26.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Jennifer #4 in 1986.
The order changed in 2025: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #342; by 2025 that had become #247 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Jennifer #413.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jennifer in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Jennifer #650.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Caitlin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Caitlin #127, Jennifer #354.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1987–2003
Caitlin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jennifer in 4.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Jennifer #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1991: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #38 and #33; by 1991 that had become #30 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Caitlin #22, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1989–2003
Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jennifer in 2.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Jennifer #41 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #64 and #41; by 1991 that had become #34 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Caitlin #14, Jennifer #84.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Caitlin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer'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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls