Brent vs Matthew
Brent 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 1992, Brent was ranked #92 and Matthew #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Brent was ranked #244 and Matthew #1 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1987, Brent was ranked #97 and Matthew #3 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2022, Brent was ranked #3449 and Matthew #118 among boys in England and Wales.
Brent and Matthew over time
Brent and Matthew appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brent 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.
Brent 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Matthew moved ahead of Brent in New Zealand · Boys — #22 and #32 the year before became #31 and #23.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Brent and Matthew averaged 39.6 places apart, ending at #97 and #3.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Matthew rose about as far as Brent fell — from #51 and #98 in 1958 to #97 and #3 in 1987.
- Longest-running competitions
Brent and Matthew were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1958 to 1987, ending at #97 and #3.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brent #571 in 1998, Matthew #6 in 1996.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1958–1987
Brent held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Matthew in 19.
Highest recorded here: Brent #22 in 1968, Matthew #2 in 1983.
The order changed in 1969: Matthew moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #22 and #32; by 1969 that had become #31 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Brent #97, Matthew #3.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2022
Brent held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 24.
Highest recorded here: Brent #571 in 1998, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Brent #3449, Matthew #118.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1974–1992
Brent held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 16.
Highest recorded here: Brent #72 in 1983, Matthew #1 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Brent #92, Matthew #1.
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 | Brent | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3449 (2022) | 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); Brent does not have one recorded yet.
- Brent has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Matthew.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Brent doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ.
How each name got here
Brent
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #67 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1987
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1954–1987).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2022
Most recently recorded at #3449 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022.
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 #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys