Caitlin vs Kellie
Caitlin and Kelliecompared 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 2007, Caitlin was ranked #15 and Kellie #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2015, Caitlin was ranked #160 and Kellie #5730 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Kellie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Caitlin and Kellie over time
Caitlin and Kellie appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kellie 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.
Kellie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Caitlin moved ahead of Kellie in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #155 and #92 the year before became #98 and #110.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Kellie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1977 to 2025, ending at #247 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1977–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Kellie in 16.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Kellie #89 in 1995.
The order changed in 1997: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #155 and #92; by 1997 that had become #98 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Kellie #885.
England and Wales · Girls17 shared years, 1996–2015
Caitlin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kellie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Kellie #470 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Caitlin #160, Kellie #5730.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2007
Caitlin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kellie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Kellie #167 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Caitlin #15, Kellie #351.
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 | Kellie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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 #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Kellie does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin and Kellie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Kellie 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
Kellie
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1968–1984
Highest recorded position: #40 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1978 (recorded 1968–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls