Namewise

Caitlin vs Rachael

Caitlin and Rachaelcompared 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 2001, Caitlin was ranked #12 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1994, Caitlin was ranked #31 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Caitlin was ranked #67 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Caitlin was ranked #357 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.

Caitlin and Rachael over time

Caitlin and Rachael appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachael 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.

Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1989, Caitlin moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #77 and #59 the year before became #43 and #56.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caitlin and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #3705.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #21 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2017 they were #67 and #432.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1967–2022

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachael in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Rachael #56 in 1994.

    The order changed in 1998: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #98 and #64; by 1998 that had become #54 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Caitlin #357, Rachael #747.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Rachael #77 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Rachael #3705.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachael in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Rachael #25 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Caitlin #67, Rachael #432.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1987–2001

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rachael in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Rachael #44 in 1992.

    The order changed in 1989: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #77 and #59; by 1989 that had become #43 and #56.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Caitlin #12, Rachael #100.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Caitlin

Pairs where Caitlin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rachael

Pairs where Rachael shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caitlin, Rachael
FieldCaitlinRachael
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe.Not yet recorded
OriginIrish, cognate of the wider Katherine familyNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkeɪt.lɪn/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caitlin has a recorded origin (Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caitlin and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Rachael 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rachael

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1969–1994

    Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls