Christopher vs Matthew
Christopher 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 2012, Christopher was ranked #99 and Matthew #36 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Christopher was ranked #94 and Matthew #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #203 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Christopher was ranked #340 and Matthew #421 among boys in Norway.
Christopher 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.
Christopher and Matthew over time
Christopher and Matthew appear together in 6 published lists, across 279 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Christopher in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Christopher in 2. 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 1968, Matthew moved ahead of Christopher in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #16 and #22 the year before became #15 and #14.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Christopher and Matthew averaged 58.5 places apart, ending at #203 and #153.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #203 and #153.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Matthew in 28.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Matthew moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #30 and #38; by 1998 that had become #41 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Matthew #55.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys58 shared years, 1957–2014
Christopher held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Matthew in 47.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Matthew #1 in 1982.
The order changed in 1968: Matthew moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #16 and #22; by 1968 that had become #15 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Christopher #94, Matthew #42.
New Zealand · Boys54 shared years, 1958–2012
Christopher held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Matthew in 39.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Matthew #1 in 1990.
The order changed in 1973: Matthew moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #9 and #11; by 1973 that had become #9 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Christopher #99, Matthew #36.
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1966–2023
Christopher held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Matthew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Matthew #267 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Christopher #340, Matthew #421.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 30.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #203, Matthew #153.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 28.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Matthew #42.
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 Christopher
Pairs where Christopher shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christopher vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #121 and #509.
Christopher · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Christopher vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #121 and #432.
Christopher · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Christopher vs Sondre
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sondre rose about as far as Christopher fell — from #205 and #512 in 1966 to #311 and #140 in 2025.
Christopher · Sondre · 58 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Christopher vs Kasper
Over 50 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kasper rose about as far as Christopher fell — from #177 and #549 in 1973 to #311 and #23 in 2025.
Christopher · Kasper · 50 shared years, 1973–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Matthew
Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matthew vs Ashley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1990, Ashley #53 in 1989.
Matthew · Ashley · 11 shared years, 1984–1995 · Peaked in the same years
- 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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
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 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- 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 | Christopher | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | 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 | Greek | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | /ˈmæθ.juː/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, 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 · Boys #121 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin, while Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Matthew.
- Christopher's recorded meaning differs from Matthew's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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 #203 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys