Caitlin vs Katelyn
Caitlin and Katelyncompared 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 2000, Caitlin was ranked #11 and Katelyn #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2010, Caitlin was ranked #62 and Katelyn #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Caitlin was ranked #70 and Katelyn #243 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Katelyn #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Katelyn #2411 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Katelyn over time
Caitlin and Katelyn appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katelyn in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Katelyn 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Katelyn changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1989 and 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caitlin and Katelyn averaged 47.5 places apart, ending at #247 and #273.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Katelyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Caitlin #2 in 2002, Katelyn #60 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Katelyn in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Katelyn #35 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Katelyn #273.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Katelyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Katelyn #185 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Katelyn #2411.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2019
Caitlin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katelyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Katelyn #60 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Caitlin #70, Katelyn #243.
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 | Katelyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caitlin has a recorded origin (Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family); Katelyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Katelyn.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Katelyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Katelyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #503 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1989–2025
Highest recorded position: #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1989–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls