Colin vs Matthew
Colin 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 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Matthew #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Matthew #7 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Matthew #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Colin was ranked #150 and Matthew #421 among boys in Norway.
Colin and Matthew over time
Colin and Matthew appear together in 6 published lists, across 185 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin in 0.
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.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Matthew 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 1964, Matthew moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #31 and #41 the year before became #33 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Matthew averaged 48.7 places apart, ending at #90 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Matthew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #348 and #55.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Matthew #6 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Matthew in 41.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Matthew #55.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Matthew #149.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1966–2023
Colin held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Matthew in 15.
Highest recorded here: Colin #150 in 2023, Matthew #273 in 1988.
The order changed in 2004: Colin moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #514 and #489; by 2004 that had become #286 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Colin #150, Matthew #421.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 1957–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matthew in 20.
Highest recorded here: Colin #24 in 1958, Matthew #1 in 1982.
The order changed in 1964: Matthew moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #31 and #41; by 1964 that had become #33 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Matthew #2.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Matthew #34.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1958–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Matthew in 9.
Highest recorded here: Colin #29 in 1958, Matthew #7 in 1974.
The order changed in 1966: Matthew moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #39 and #61; by 1966 that had become #46 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Matthew #7.
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 | Colin | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈmæθ.juː/ |
| 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) | 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); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; 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
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