Alfie vs Matthew
Alfie and Matthewcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #15 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #16 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #17 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #36 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2023, Alfie was ranked #77 and Matthew #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Alfie and Matthew over time
Alfie and Matthew appear together in 3 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alfie in 1.
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.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alfie 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alfie moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2025 as Matthew fell out of it to #55, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Alfie moved ahead of Matthew in England and Wales · Boys — #23 and #15 the year before became #16 and #18.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alfie and Matthew averaged 57.1 places apart, ending at #16 and #153.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alfie rose about as far as Matthew fell — from #390 and #24 in 2000 to #36 and #55 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfie and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #16 and #153.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Matthew in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #4 in 2009, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Alfie moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #23 and #15; by 2006 that had become #16 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #16, Matthew #153.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Matthew in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #36 in 2017, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order changed in 2025: Alfie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #49 and #42; by 2025 that had become #36 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #36, Matthew #55.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2024
Alfie held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Matthew in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #10 in 2016, Matthew #1 in 2000.
The order changed in 2019: Alfie moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #14 and #11; by 2019 that had become #10 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfie #17, Matthew #42.
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 | Alfie | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Alfred — 'elf counsel', from Old English aelf ('elf') and raed ('counsel, advice'). | From Greek Matthaios, from Hebrew Mattithiah, combining 'mattat' (gift) with 'Yahweh' — 'gift of God'. Matthew was a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles, traditionally credited as author of the first Gospel. |
| Origin | English, diminutive of Alfred | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈælfi/ | /ˈmæθ.juː/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfie is recorded with a English, diminutive of Alfred origin, while Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Alfie and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- Alfie's recorded meaning differs from Matthew's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alfie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #119 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Matthew
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys