Christopher vs Mats
Christopher and Matscompared 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 2020, Christopher was ranked #179 and Mats #4608 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Mats #228 among boys in Norway.
Christopher and Mats over time
Christopher and Mats appear together in 1 published list, across 73 years of shared records. Mats held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Christopher 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.
Christopher reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Mats 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 1975, Mats moved ahead of Christopher in Norway · Boys — #185 and #195 the year before became #184 and #154.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Christopher and Mats changed places 13 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #311 and #228.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Mats were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 73 years, from 1949 to 2025, ending at #311 and #228.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #54 in 1987, Mats #21 in 1989.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1949–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mats in 63.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Mats #21 in 1989.
The order changed in 1975: Mats moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #185 and #195; by 1975 that had become #184 and #154.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Mats #228.
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 | Christopher | Mats |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Norway · Boys #228 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher has a recorded origin (Greek); Mats does not have one recorded yet.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Mats.
- A meaning is recorded for Christopher; Mats doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Mats
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #330 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1949–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1989 (recorded 1949–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #228 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys