Caitlin vs Sarah
Caitlin and Sarah compared 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 Sarah #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Sarah #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Caitlin was ranked #96 and Sarah #91 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Sarah #131 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
Caitlin and Sarah over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Caitlin and Sarah over time
Caitlin and Sarah appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Sarah held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caitlin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Sarah 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Sarah changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1989 and 2014, ending at #96 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Caitlin and Sarah averaged 27.6 places apart, ending at #78 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #131.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Caitlin #2 in 2002, Sarah #5 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1967–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 48.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Sarah #66.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sarah in 17.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Sarah #131.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sarah in 23.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Sarah #5 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Sarah #75.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1987–2013
Caitlin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sarah in 27.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Sarah #2 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Caitlin #78, Sarah #36.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1989–2014
Caitlin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sarah in 23.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Sarah #1 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Caitlin #96, Sarah #91.
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.
- Caitlin vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #2788.
Caitlin · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Caitlin
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Caitlin · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caitlin vs Phoebe
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #65 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #14.
Caitlin · Phoebe · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caitlin vs Daisy
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #71 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #18.
Caitlin · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Sarah
Pairs where Sarah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #2138.
Sarah · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #18 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #131 and #1454.
Sarah · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Yvonne
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #45 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2016 they were #16 and #868.
Sarah · Yvonne · 51 shared years, 1964–2016 · Started together, ended far apart
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.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Caitlin | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Caitlín, itself a cognate of Katherine/Catalina traditions across Europe. | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #66 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Sarah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Caitlin and Sarah both have 2 syllables.
- Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Sarah'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
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
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #131 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls