Craig vs Mathew
Craig and Mathewcompared 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 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Mathew #46 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Craig was ranked #90 and Mathew #66 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Craig was ranked #346 and Mathew #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Mathew #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Mathew #1517 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Mathew over time
Craig and Mathew appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mathew in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Mathew 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Mathew moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1988 as Craig fell out of it to #52, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Mathew moved ahead of Craig in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #29 and #32 the year before became #31 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Mathew changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #1517.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Mathew averaged 28.0 places apart, ending at #97 and #46.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Mathew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #516 and #770.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Mathew #115 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Mathew in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Mathew #145 in 1964.
The order changed in 2023: Craig moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #646 and #564; by 2023 that had become #516 and #770.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Mathew #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Mathew in 15.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Mathew #115 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Mathew moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1692 and #2320; by 2023 that had become #2325 and #1701.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Mathew #1517.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1966–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Mathew in 10.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Mathew #29 in 1985.
The order changed in 1982: Mathew moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #29 and #32; by 1982 that had become #31 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Mathew #46.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1970–1992
Craig held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Mathew in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Mathew #37 in 1985.
The order changed in 1988: Mathew moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #45 and #49; by 1988 that had become #52 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Craig #90, Mathew #66.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1998–2012
Craig held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mathew in 1.
Highest recorded here: Craig #77 in 1998, Mathew #190 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Craig #346, Mathew #403.
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 | Craig | Mathew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Mathew does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Mathew.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Mathew doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Mathew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #145 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2000
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys