Caitlin vs Meghan
Caitlin and Meghancompared 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 2020, Caitlin was ranked #140 and Meghan #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Meghan #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Meghan #2278 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Meghan over time
Caitlin and Meghan appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Meghan 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.
Meghan 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 1995, Caitlin moved ahead of Meghan in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #171 and #150 the year before became #141 and #196.
- Mirrored each other
Over 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caitlin rose about as far as Meghan fell — from #519 and #519 in 1985 to #247 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Meghan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #2278.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Meghan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Meghan #150 in 1994.
The order changed in 1995: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #171 and #150; by 1995 that had become #141 and #196.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Meghan #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Meghan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Meghan #237 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Meghan #2278.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2020
Caitlin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Meghan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Meghan #119 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Caitlin #140, Meghan #397.
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 | Meghan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| 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); Meghan does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin and Meghan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Meghan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Meghan
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2020
Highest recorded position: #119 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2020).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls