Caoimhe

femaleIrish

Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh.

Origin: Irish

Official popularity data is available for 4 regions, from 1966 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #12 in Republic of Ireland in 2004. See regions.

Caoimhe: Recorded since 1966, it reached #12 in 2003, and it was still inside the top 100 in 2025.

4registrars recorded it
116times a registrar ranked it
60years from first to last
#12highest recorded position
30groupings it qualifies for
27names it appears alongside

What stands out in Caoimhe's record

Held a top-100 place for 38 years running. Names by top-100 run
Appears alongside 27 other names across 7 kinds of recorded relationship. All recorded relationships
Shares a published list with another name across 57 years. Longest shared records

KEE-vah/ˈkiːvʲə/

Compare Caoimhe Run Name Checker on Caoimhe

Data Confidence

Evidence: ModerateCompleteness: SubstantialEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (4) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh.
Pronunciation: KEE-vah
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: female
Language family: Irish

Popularity

Region

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#1031
1997	#926
1998	#995
1999	#864
2000	#993
2001	#1063
2002	#1066
2003	#1129
2004	#1158
2005	#769
2006	#869
2007	#764
2008	#817
2009	#958
2010	#790
2011	#681
2012	#663
2013	#639
2014	#699
2015	#702
2016	#714
2017	#899
2018	#815
2019	#806
2020	#821
2021	#957
2022	#876
2023	#1169
2024	#1302
2025	#1110

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Republic of Ireland in 57 of the 60 years from 1966 to 2025.

In 2025: #31 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #1110 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 4 national registrars across 4 regions, 1966–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Caoimhe appears in 3 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Girls, which has ranked it in 57 years beginning in 1966, and has registered 9,149 births with the name.

Caoimhe across 3 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Caoimhe's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#380 (1966)	#12 (2003)	#31 (2025)	57 of 60	9,149 (1966–2025)	398 (2011)
England and Wales · Girls	#1031 (1996)	#639 (2013)	#1110 (2025)	30 of 30	1,113 (1996–2025)	64 (2013)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#30 (1997)	#25 (2003)	#70 (2024)	28 of 28	1,804 (1997–2024)	94 (1998)

Caoimhe by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Caoimhe in Republic of Ireland · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960s	3	1 of 10	3
1970s	154	10 of 10	15
1980s	497	10 of 10	50
1990s	1,541	10 of 10	154
2000sbusiest	3,263	10 of 10	326
2010s	2,736	10 of 10	274
2020s	955	6 of 10	159

Across Republic of Ireland · Girls, the 2000s were its busiest decade, averaging 326 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 1996 and 1997, when recorded births rose by 91, from 161 to 252.

See the names Republic of Irelandhas recorded the most births with →

Caoimhe appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 4 registrars between 1966 and 2025, ranked in 57 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #12, first reached in 2003.

It held a top-100 place in 38 years, 38 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 398 births, registered in Republic of Ireland in 2011.

Its record falls into 2 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 3 years.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1996, and 58 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Caoimhe was ranked #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls in 2003. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Caoilinn · #246, 30y
Caoilte · #281, 9y
Caoimhin · #99, 39y
Caolan · #28, 41y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 4 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Saoirse · #12, 52y
Vicki · #12, 53y
Darragh · #11, 61y
Eoin · #14, 62y

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1960 and 1969.

Declan · #12, 62y
Cameron · #11, 59y
Connor · #11, 61y
Darragh · #11, 61y

Comparisons involving Caoimhe

Existing comparison pages where Caoimhe and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Caoimhe in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Aisling vs Caoimhe
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Aisling fell — from #100 and #380 in 1966 to #180 and #31 in 2025.
Aisling · Caoimhe · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Caoimhe vs Alison
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Alison fell — from #380 and #98 in 1966 to #31 and #213 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Alison · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Andrea vs Caoimhe
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Andrea fell — from #185 and #380 in 1966 to #304 and #31 in 2025.
Andrea · Caoimhe · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Caoimhe within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Holly vs Caoimhe
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Holly and Caoimhe averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #105 and #70.
Holly · Caoimhe · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking
Leah vs Caoimhe
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Leah and Caoimhe averaged 12.3 places apart, ending at #119 and #70.
Leah · Caoimhe · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Caoimhe and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Amelia vs Caoimhe
In 2012, Amelia moved ahead of Caoimhe in Northern Ireland · Girls — #33 and #31 the year before became #4 and #35.
Amelia · Caoimhe · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2012 Northern Ireland ranking
Ava vs Caoimhe
In 2006, Ava moved ahead of Caoimhe in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #18 and #17 the year before became #6 and #15.
Ava · Caoimhe · 45 shared years, 1978–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2006 Republic of Ireland ranking
Laura vs Caoimhe
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe moved into the top 50 at #25 in 2003 as Laura fell out of it to #51, having been #26 the year before.
Laura · Caoimhe · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2003 Northern Ireland ranking

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs involving Caoimhe measured in Republic of Ireland's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Caoimhe at its highest position.

Caoimhe vs Heather
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Heather fell — from #380 and #164 in 1966 to #31 and #325 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Heather · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Caoimhe vs Julia
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Julia fell — from #380 and #59 in 1966 to #31 and #118 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Julia · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Maria vs Caoimhe
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Maria fell — from #30 and #380 in 1966 to #74 and #31 in 2025.
Maria · Caoimhe · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Republic of Ireland overview→

Caoimhe and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Caoimhe without appearing here.

Caoimhe moved ahead of

Paula
In 2021 they stood at #957 and #957 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2022 that had become #876 and #1685.
Tracey
In 2004 they stood at #1158 and #1072 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2005 that had become #769 and #1500.
Tyler
In 2009 they stood at #958 and #958 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2010 that had become #790 and #1520.
Suzanne
In 2005 they stood at #769 and #745 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2006 that had become #869 and #1585.

Moved ahead of Caoimhe

Maja
In 2005 they stood at #769 and #951 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2006 that had become #869 and #456.
Blake
In 2016 they stood at #714 and #768 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2017 that had become #899 and #499.
Harper
In 2011 they stood at #681 and #858 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2012 that had become #663 and #284.
Fiadh
In 2019 they stood at #806 and #1063 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2020 that had become #821 and #460.

Moved the opposite way to Caoimhe

Aisling Compare
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 while Aisling went from #100 to #180.
Alison Compare
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 while Alison went from #98 to #213.
Amanda
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 while Amanda went from #97 to #608.
Andrea Compare
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 while Andrea went from #185 to #304.

Moved the same way as Caoimhe

Alice
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 and Alice from #73 to #41.
Annie
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 and Annie from #139 to #33.
Aoife
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 and Aoife from #189 to #34.
Cara
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe went from #380 to #31 and Cara from #344 to #52.

Meaning & Origin

Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name, Teanglann.ie (Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, Ó Dónaill).Confidence: high.

Irish

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Caoimhe is officially recorded

4 official registrars have recorded Caoimhe, between 1966 and 2025, in 57 of those 60 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
Republic of Ireland	1966–2025	57	#12 in 2003
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#639 in 2013
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	28	#25 in 2003
Scotland	2024	1	#275 in 2024

Its high point came 21 years earlier in Republic of Ireland (2003) than in Scotland (2024).

No registrar recorded it for 3 years after 1966; it appears again in 1970.

Variants

No spelling variants or nicknames recorded yet.

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

KEE-vah/ˈkiːvʲə/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Caoimhe Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Caoimhe in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

England and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of Ireland

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

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Caoimhe

Caoimhe at a glance

What stands out in Caoimhe's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Caoimhe across 3 official records

Caoimhe by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Caoimhe appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Caoimhe

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Comparisons involving Caoimhe

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Caoimhe and the names beside it

Caoimhe moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Caoimhe

Moved the opposite way to Caoimhe

Moved the same way as Caoimhe

Meaning & Origin

Where Caoimhe is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Caoimhe Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Caoimhe at a glance

What stands out in Caoimhe's record

Caoimhe across 3 official records

Caoimhe by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Caoimhe appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Caoimhe

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Comparisons involving Caoimhe

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Republic of Ireland lists

Caoimhe and the names beside it

Caoimhe moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Caoimhe

Moved the opposite way to Caoimhe

Moved the same way as Caoimhe