Caitlin vs Sophia
Caitlin and Sophiacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Caitlin was ranked #96 and Sophia #9 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2013, Caitlin was ranked #78 and Sophia #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Caitlin and Sophia over time
Caitlin and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caitlin in 1.
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.
Caitlin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sophia 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 2008, Sophia moved ahead of Caitlin in England and Wales · Girls — #34 and #37 the year before became #44 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caitlin and Sophia changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #247 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Sophia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #247 and #14.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1975–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sophia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Sophia #14.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sophia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2008: Sophia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #34 and #37; by 2008 that had become #44 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #28 and #29; by 2011 that had become #36 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Sophia #8.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1995–2014
Caitlin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sophia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #10 in 1998, Sophia #9 in 2014.
The order changed in 2008: Sophia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #24 and #28; by 2008 that had become #36 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Caitlin #96, Sophia #9.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2013
Caitlin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sophia in 8.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #11 in 2000, Sophia #11 in 2013.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #24 and #26; by 2006 that had become #29 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Caitlin #78, Sophia #11.
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 | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪt.lɪn/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Caitlin is recorded with a Irish, cognate of the wider Katherine family origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Caitlin and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Caitlin's recorded meaning differs from Sophia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Caitlin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Sophia
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — 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: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls