Caolan vs Paidi
Caolan and Paidicompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Caolan was ranked #89 and Paidi #84 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Caolan was ranked #188 and Paidi #184 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caolan was ranked #1517 and Paidi #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Caolan and Paidi over time
Caolan and Paidi appear together in 2 published lists, across 27 years of shared records. Caolan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Paidi 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.
Caolan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Paidi 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 2024, Paidi moved ahead of Caolan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #83 and #108 the year before became #89 and #84.
List by list
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2004–2024
Caolan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Paidi in 1.
Highest recorded here: Caolan #57 in 2004, Paidi #84 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Paidi moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #83 and #108; by 2024 that had become #89 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caolan #89, Paidi #84.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2005–2017
Caolan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Paidi in 1.
Highest recorded here: Caolan #140 in 2005, Paidi #184 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Caolan #188, Paidi #184.
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 | Caolan | Paidi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'slender' or 'little slender one' — a diminutive built on the Irish word caol ('slender'). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːlˠaːnˠ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #84 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caolan has a recorded origin (Irish); Paidi does not have one recorded yet.
- Caolan and Paidi both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Caolan; Paidi doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Caolan
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #28 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Paidi
Popularity journey
First recorded2004
First recorded at #305 among boys in Northern Ireland in 2004 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Northern Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #84 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #84 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Boys