Namewise

Caoimhe vs Rachael

Caoimhe and Rachaelcompared 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 2022, Caoimhe was ranked #24 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Caoimhe was ranked #64 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.

Caoimhe and Rachael over time

Caoimhe and Rachael appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rachael in 0.

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.

Rachael 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 1998, Caoimhe moved ahead of Rachael in Northern Ireland · Girls — #30 and #25 the year before became #26 and #40.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caoimhe and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #3705.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #30 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2017 they were #64 and #432.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1966–2022

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Rachael in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Rachael #56 in 1994.

    The order changed in 1992: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #66 and #60; by 1992 that had become #61 and #81.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Caoimhe #24, Rachael #747.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rachael in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Rachael #77 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2011: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #790 and #730; by 2011 that had become #681 and #692.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Rachael #3705.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017

    Caoimhe held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachael in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Rachael #25 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1998: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #30 and #25; by 1998 that had become #26 and #40.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Caoimhe #64, Rachael #432.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Caoimhe

Pairs where Caoimhe shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rachael

Pairs where Rachael shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caoimhe, Rachael
FieldCaoimheRachael
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh.Not yet recorded
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈkiːvʲə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caoimhe and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Rachael doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Caoimhe

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1966–2025

    Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rachael

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1969–1994

    Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls