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Caitlin vs Shannon

Caitlin and Shannon 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 1998, Caitlin was ranked #10 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Caitlin was ranked #11 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

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

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #1028 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Caitlin and Shannon over time

Republic of Ireland · Girls
#30#100#30019762025Caitlin #247Shannon #8851976: Caitlin #497, Shannon #4971980: Caitlin #483, Shannon #5421985: Caitlin #519, Shannon #3481986: Caitlin #356, Shannon #5211987: Caitlin #488, Shannon #3861989: Caitlin #408, Shannon #3321990: Caitlin #357, Shannon #2081991: Caitlin #365, Shannon #1801992: Caitlin #391, Shannon #1161993: Caitlin #204, Shannon #521994: Caitlin #171, Shannon #421995: Caitlin #141, Shannon #111996: Caitlin #155, Shannon #171997: Caitlin #98, Shannon #141998: Caitlin #54, Shannon #151999: Caitlin #41, Shannon #192000: Caitlin #40, Shannon #262001: Caitlin #34, Shannon #292002: Caitlin #38, Shannon #372003: Caitlin #31, Shannon #522004: Caitlin #34, Shannon #462005: Caitlin #34, Shannon #562006: Caitlin #46, Shannon #492007: Caitlin #44, Shannon #712008: Caitlin #46, Shannon #692009: Caitlin #53, Shannon #942010: Caitlin #75, Shannon #1022011: Caitlin #65, Shannon #1162012: Caitlin #64, Shannon #1422013: Caitlin #73, Shannon #1722014: Caitlin #91, Shannon #1882015: Caitlin #97, Shannon #2222016: Caitlin #121, Shannon #2172017: Caitlin #154, Shannon #3012018: Caitlin #179, Shannon #6292019: Caitlin #152, Shannon #3952020: Caitlin #246, Shannon #3752021: Caitlin #221, Shannon #5862022: Caitlin #357, Shannon #5592023: Caitlin #339, Shannon #5552025: Caitlin #247, Shannon #885

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.

England and Wales · Girls
#30#100#300#100019962025Caitlin #1028Shannon #21381996: Caitlin #66, Shannon #111997: Caitlin #46, Shannon #161998: Caitlin #28, Shannon #181999: Caitlin #25, Shannon #212000: Caitlin #24, Shannon #232001: Caitlin #21, Shannon #262002: Caitlin #23, Shannon #312003: Caitlin #22, Shannon #352004: Caitlin #25, Shannon #542005: Caitlin #26, Shannon #612006: Caitlin #35, Shannon #732007: Caitlin #34, Shannon #912008: Caitlin #44, Shannon #1512009: Caitlin #58, Shannon #2152010: Caitlin #66, Shannon #2412011: Caitlin #86, Shannon #3482012: Caitlin #97, Shannon #3792013: Caitlin #114, Shannon #5282014: Caitlin #137, Shannon #5472015: Caitlin #160, Shannon #7222016: Caitlin #222, Shannon #8372017: Caitlin #280, Shannon #9152018: Caitlin #306, Shannon #14362019: Caitlin #458, Shannon #10632020: Caitlin #525, Shannon #18462021: Caitlin #529, Shannon #15052022: Caitlin #718, Shannon #19482023: Caitlin #832, Shannon #22012024: Caitlin #610, Shannon #17432025: Caitlin #1028, Shannon #2138

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 Shannon over time

Caitlin and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Shannon 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 took the other's place near the top

    In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caitlin moved into the top 50 at #31 in 2003 as Shannon fell out of it to #52, having been #37 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2001, Caitlin moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #24 and #23 the year before became #21 and #26.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Caitlin and Shannon changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #247 and #885.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 41 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caitlin rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #497 and #497 in 1976 to #247 and #885 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caitlin and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #2138.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1976–2025

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Shannon in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Shannon #11 in 1995.

    The order changed in 2003: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #38 and #37; by 2003 that had become #31 and #52.

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

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

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Shannon in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Shannon #11 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2001: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #24 and #23; by 2001 that had become #21 and #26.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #1028, Shannon #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 2.

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

    The order changed in 1999: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #11 and #7; by 1999 that had become #4 and #12.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Shannon #407.

  • New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1989–2001

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shannon in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Shannon #31 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1994: Caitlin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #33 and #31; by 1994 that had become #31 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Caitlin #11, Shannon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1987–1998

    Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Shannon #45 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Caitlin #10, Shannon #50.

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 Shannon

Pairs where Shannon 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 — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other →

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 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, Shannon
FieldCaitlinShannon
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/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

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

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

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

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls