Namewise

Caitlin vs Samantha

Caitlin and Samanthacompared 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 2014, Caitlin was ranked #96 and Samantha #70 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2013, Caitlin was ranked #78 and Samantha #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2021, Caitlin was ranked #123 and Samantha #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Samantha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Samantha #541 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Samantha #778 among girls in England and Wales.

Caitlin and Samantha over time

Caitlin and Samantha appear together in 5 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Samantha in 2.

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.

Samantha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2013, Caitlin moved ahead of Samantha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #92 and #91 the year before became #78 and #84.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Caitlin and Samantha changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1028 and #778.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Caitlin and Samantha averaged 16.4 places apart, ending at #78 and #84.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caitlin and Samantha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #778.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Caitlin #2 in 2002, Samantha #57 in 2000.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1967–2025

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Samantha in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Samantha #33 in 1986.

    The order changed in 2024: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #339 and #339; by 2024 that had become #342 and #631.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Samantha #885.

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

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Samantha in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Samantha #32 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Samantha #778.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1987–2013

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Samantha in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Samantha #3 in 1992.

    The order changed in 2013: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #92 and #91; by 2013 that had become #78 and #84.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Caitlin #78, Samantha #84.

  • New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1989–2014

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Samantha in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Samantha #3 in 1989.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Caitlin #96, Samantha #70.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2021

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Samantha in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Samantha #57 in 2000.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Caitlin #123, Samantha #446.

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 Samantha

Pairs where Samantha 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 — close in one country, far apart in another.

All close in one country, far apart in another→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caitlin, Samantha
FieldCaitlinSamantha
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe.Likely a feminine adaptation of Samuel, incorporating a suffix possibly derived from Greek 'anthos' ('flower'). Emerged in 18th-century America; boosted to wide popularity by the 1964 television series Bewitched.
OriginIrish, cognate of the wider Katherine familyHebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin)
Pronunciation/ˈkeɪt.lɪn//sə.ˈmæn.θə/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)Norway · Girls #525 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Samantha is recorded with a Hebrew, feminine adaptation (uncertain suffix origin) origin.
  • Caitlin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Samantha.
  • Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Samantha's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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

Samantha

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1966

    First recorded at #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1966–2013

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1966–2013).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls