Donnacha vs Matthew
Donnacha 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Donnacha was ranked #93 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Donnacha was ranked #64 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Donnacha was ranked #2263 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Donnacha and Matthew over time
Donnacha and Matthew appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Donnacha in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Donnacha 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Donnacha and Matthew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #64 and #55.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Donnacha held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 61.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #46 in 2022, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Donnacha #64, Matthew #55.
England and Wales · Boys16 shared years, 2007–2024
Donnacha held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 16.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #1786 in 2018, Matthew #24 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donnacha #2263, Matthew #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2009–2024
Donnacha held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 16.
Highest recorded here: Donnacha #89 in 2021, Matthew #2 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donnacha #93, 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 Matthew
Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matthew vs Adrian
In 1964 they stood at #59 and #65 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #55 and #348.
Matthew · Adrian · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- 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
Side by side
| Field | Donnacha | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #64 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Donnacha does not have one recorded yet.
- Donnacha has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Matthew.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Donnacha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Donnacha
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #207 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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