Barry vs Matthew
Barry 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Matthew #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Matthew #11 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Matthew #31 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Matthew over time
Barry and Matthew appear together in 5 published lists, across 142 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barry in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Matthew 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 New Zealand · Boys, Matthew moved into the top 50 at #40 in 1966 as Barry fell out of it to #62, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1962, Matthew moved ahead of Barry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #45 and #48 the year before became #48 and #46.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Matthew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #55.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #69 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #55.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Matthew in 40.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Matthew #55.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Matthew #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Matthew #31.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1957–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Matthew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Barry #35 in 1957, Matthew #4 in 1972.
The order changed in 1962: Matthew moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #45 and #48; by 1962 that had become #48 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Matthew #4.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1958–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Matthew in 7.
Highest recorded here: Barry #31 in 1959, Matthew #11 in 1972.
The order changed in 1966: Matthew moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #46 and #61; by 1966 that had become #62 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Matthew #11.
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 | Barry | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Matthew has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Barry 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
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys