Caoimhe vs Claire
Caoimhe and Clairecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Claire #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #70 and Claire #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Claire #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Claire #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Caoimhe and Claire over time
Caoimhe and Claire appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Claire in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Caoimhe 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 1999, Caoimhe moved ahead of Claire in Northern Ireland · Girls — #26 and #26 the year before became #29 and #32.
- Longest-running competitions
Caoimhe and Claire were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #1362.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #28 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #70 and #407.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Claire in 28.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Claire #10 in 1984.
The order changed in 1997: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #40 and #28; by 1997 that had become #25 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Claire #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Claire in 16.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Claire #90 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1302 and #1021; by 2025 that had become #1110 and #1362.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Claire #1362.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Claire in 1.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Claire #26 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #26 and #26; by 1999 that had become #29 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #70, Claire #407.
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 | Caoimhe | Claire |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. |
| Origin | Irish | Latin, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːvʲə/ | /klɛʁ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Clara |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (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
- Caoimhe is recorded with a Irish origin, while Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin.
- Caoimhe and Claire both have 2 syllables.
- Caoimhe's recorded meaning differs from Claire's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Caoimhe a "medium" Data Confidence level and Claire a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Caoimhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls