Caitlin vs Lillian
Caitlin and Lilliancompared 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 Lillian #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Caitlin was ranked #127 and Lillian #418 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Lillian #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Lillian #309 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Lillian #476 among girls in Scotland.
Caitlin and Lillian over time
Caitlin and Lillian appear together in 2 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lillian in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Lillian 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 Lillian changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #247 and #413.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Lillian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #247 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1967–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Lillian in 11.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Lillian #236 in 2016.
The order changed in 2025: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #243; by 2025 that had become #247 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Lillian #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Lillian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Lillian #274 in 2017.
The order changed in 2019: Lillian moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #306 and #330; by 2019 that had become #458 and #310.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Lillian #309.
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 | Lillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Norway · Girls #295 (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); Lillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin and Lillian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Lillian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Lillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #40 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #40 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #295 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls