Namewise

Darren vs Matthew

Darren 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 1989, Darren was ranked #85 and Matthew #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1982, Darren was ranked #83 and Matthew #6 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Darren was ranked #404 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Darren was ranked #535 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Darren was ranked #1066 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.

Darren and Matthew over time

Darren and Matthew appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Darren in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Matthew 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.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Matthew averaged 33.2 places apart, ending at #85 and #1.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Darren and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1066 and #153.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025

    Darren held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Matthew in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Matthew #15 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Matthew #55.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Darren held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #1066, Matthew #153.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1960–1989

    Darren held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Matthew in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Darren #10 in 1966, Matthew #1 in 1982.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1989: Darren #85, Matthew #1.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2024

    Darren held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Darren #52 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #404, Matthew #42.

  • New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1964–1982

    Darren held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Matthew in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1965, Matthew #3 in 1976.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1982: Darren #83, Matthew #6.

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 Darren

Pairs where Darren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Matthew

Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Darren, Matthew
FieldDarrenMatthew
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningExact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched.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.
OriginUncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)Biblical Hebrew
Pronunciation/ˈdæɹ.ən//ˈmæθ.juː/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Darren is recorded with a Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) origin, while Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
  • Darren and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
  • Darren'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, NZ.

How each name got here

Darren

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1960

    First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1960–1989

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Matthew

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1957–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2023).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys