Ashley vs Matthew
Ashley and Matthew compared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1995, Ashley was ranked #81 and Matthew #2 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1993, Ashley was ranked #93 and Matthew #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Ashley was ranked #398 and Matthew #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Ashley was ranked #637 and Matthew #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ashley was ranked #716 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.
Ashley and Matthew over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ashley and Matthew over time
Ashley and Matthew appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ashley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Ashley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Matthew in 1. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashley and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #716 and #153.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ashley #40 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1967–2020
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 37.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #142 in 1967, Matthew #19 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Ashley #637, Matthew #39.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #40 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashley #716, Matthew #153.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1971–1993
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 22.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #56 in 1985, Matthew #1 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Ashley #93, Matthew #3.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #139 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Ashley #398, Matthew #7.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1984–1995
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #53 in 1989, Matthew #1 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Ashley #81, Matthew #2.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ashley
Pairs where Ashley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Mohammed vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #20 and #716.
Mohammed · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Charlie vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #716.
Charlie · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Edward vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #45 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #31 and #716.
Edward · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #716.
Jacob · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Matthew
Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matthew vs Barry
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Barry #90 in 1997.
Matthew · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Ben
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1982, Ben #41 in 1981.
Matthew · Ben · 26 shared years, 1976–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Bradley
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Bradley #68 in 1998.
Matthew · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Brendan
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Brendan #73 in 1997.
Matthew · Brendan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ashley | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæθ.juː/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Matthew has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Ashley does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashley and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Ashley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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