Caoimhe vs Molly
Caoimhe and Mollycompared 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 Molly #20 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #70 and Molly #28 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Molly #68 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Molly #120 among girls in England and Wales.
Caoimhe and Molly over time
Caoimhe and Molly appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Molly held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caoimhe in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Caoimhe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Molly in 1. 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 2001, Molly moved ahead of Caoimhe in Northern Ireland · Girls — #28 and #47 the year before became #30 and #27.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe and Molly averaged 18.1 places apart, ending at #70 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Caoimhe and Molly were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #120.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1989–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Molly in 6.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Molly #18 in 2019.
The order changed in 2020: Molly moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #17 and #18; by 2020 that had become #27 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Molly #20.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Molly in 30.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Molly #15 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Molly #120.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Molly in 24.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Molly #18 in 2007.
The order changed in 2001: Molly moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #28 and #47; by 2001 that had become #30 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #70, Molly #28.
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 | Molly |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːvʲə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Molly does not have one recorded yet.
- Caoimhe and Molly both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Molly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Molly
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #408 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #120 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls