Namewise

Brendan vs Martin

Brendan and Martincompared 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 1992, Brendan was ranked #41 and Martin #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1987, Brendan was ranked #92 and Martin #81 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Martin #102 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Martin #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Martin #352 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Brendan was ranked #1613 and Martin #363 among boys in England and Wales.

Brendan and Martin over time

Brendan and Martin appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Brendan in 1.

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.

Martin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Brendan 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 1976, Brendan moved ahead of Martin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #52 the year before became #41 and #65.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Brendan and Martin changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 1987, ending at #92 and #81.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Martin averaged 32.6 places apart, ending at #41 and #97.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Brendan and Martin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1613 and #363.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Martin #109 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #17 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #102.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Martin #9 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Martin #102.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Brendan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Martin in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Martin #109 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #1613, Martin #363.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1965–1992

    Brendan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Martin in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Martin #41 in 1967.

    The order changed in 1976: Brendan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #57 and #52; by 1976 that had become #41 and #65.

    Most recent shared year, 1992: Brendan #41, Martin #97.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Brendan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Martin in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Martin #49 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Martin #216.

  • New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1966–1987

    Brendan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Martin in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Brendan #63 in 1974, Martin #37 in 1966.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1987: Brendan #92, Martin #81.

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 Brendan

Pairs where Brendan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Martin

Pairs where Martin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Brendan, Martin
FieldBrendanMartin
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France.
OriginNot yet recordedLatin (Ancient Roman)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)Norway · Boys #69 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Brendan and Martin both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Martin; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Brendan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #17 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1613 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Martin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #83 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys