Colin vs Martin
Colin 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Martin #69 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Martin #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Martin #76 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Martin #102 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Martin #166 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Martin #346 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Martin over time
Colin and Martin appear together in 6 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin in 0.
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.
Martin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Colin 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 1967, Martin moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #41 and #53 the year before became #48 and #41.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Martin averaged 20.3 places apart, ending at #90 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Martin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Martin #109 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Martin in 61.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Martin #9 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Martin #102.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 44.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Martin #1 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Martin #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Martin in 17.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Martin #41 in 1967.
The order changed in 1967: Martin moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #41 and #53; by 1967 that had become #48 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Martin #75.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Martin #346.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Martin in 12.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Martin #34 in 1963.
The order changed in 1963: Martin moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #33 and #40; by 1963 that had become #38 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Martin #76.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Martin #49 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Martin #166.
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 Colin
Pairs where Colin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Colin vs Ronald
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2012 they were #169 and #718.
Colin · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #302.
Gary · Colin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Martin
Pairs where Martin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Martin vs Roger
In 1945 they stood at #83 and #86 in Norway · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2013 they were #27 and #514.
Martin · Roger · 62 shared years, 1945–2013 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Paul
In 1945 they stood at #83 and #73 in Norway · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #60 and #370.
Martin · Paul · 80 shared years, 1945–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #9 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #402.
Martin · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Aksel
Martin and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #69 and #25.
Martin · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Colin | Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From 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. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin (Ancient Roman) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Martin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Martin
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys