Caitlin vs Shannon
Caitlin and Shannoncompared 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 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Shannon over time
Caitlin and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #247 and #885.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 24 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, 2024: Caitlin #610, Shannon #1743.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Caitlin | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| 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 | 82/100 |
| 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); 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
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 #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Shannon
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls