Caitlin vs Sorcha
Caitlin and Sorchacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #119 and Sorcha #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caitlin was ranked #247 and Sorcha #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #333 and Sorcha #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caitlin was ranked #610 and Sorcha #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Caitlin and Sorcha over time
Caitlin and Sorcha appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Caitlin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sorcha in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sorcha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Sorcha changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
- Longest-running competitions
Caitlin and Sorcha were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #247 and #273.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1975–2025
Caitlin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sorcha in 21.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #31 in 2003, Sorcha #74 in 1999.
The order changed in 2025: Caitlin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #275; by 2025 that had become #247 and #273.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caitlin #247, Sorcha #273.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sorcha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #21 in 2001, Sorcha #585 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #610, Sorcha #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Caitlin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sorcha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caitlin #2 in 2002, Sorcha #98 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caitlin #119, Sorcha #253.
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 | Sorcha |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Sorcha does not have one recorded yet.
- Caitlin and Sorcha both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caitlin; Sorcha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Sorcha
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #357 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1968–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls