Caoimhe vs Raya
Caoimhe and Rayacompared 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 Raya #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #70 and Raya #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #1302 and Raya #82 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Raya #117 among girls in Scotland.
Caoimhe and Raya over time
Caoimhe and Raya appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Raya in 1.
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.
Caoimhe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Raya 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Raya in 15.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Raya #82 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Raya moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #663 and #701; by 2013 that had become #639 and #575.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #1302, Raya #82.
Republic of Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2010–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Raya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #17 in 2019, Raya #99 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Raya #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Raya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #39 in 2016, Raya #70 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #70, Raya #70.
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 | Raya |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Raya does not have one recorded yet.
- Caoimhe has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Raya.
- A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Raya 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 #31 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Raya
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2350 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2014–2024
Highest recorded position: #70 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2014–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls