Alfred vs Mathew
Alfred and Mathewcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Mathew #1517 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Mathew #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Alfred was ranked #312 and Mathew #418 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alfred and Mathew over time
Alfred and Mathew appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Alfred held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mathew 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.
Mathew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Alfred 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 2000, Alfred moved ahead of Mathew in England and Wales · Boys — #150 and #147 the year before became #139 and #171.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Mathew changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #286 and #829.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Mathew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #286 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #134 in 1964, Mathew #145 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Mathew in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Mathew #145 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Mathew #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Mathew in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Mathew #115 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Alfred moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #150 and #147; by 2000 that had become #139 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Mathew #1517.
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 | Alfred | Mathew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | 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, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred and Mathew both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alfred
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #127 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Mathew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #145 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2000
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys