Espen vs Mats
Espen and Matscompared 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, Espen was ranked #430 and Mats #228 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2020, Espen was ranked #3334 and Mats #4608 among boys in England and Wales.
Espen and Mats over time
Espen and Mats appear together in 1 published list, across 74 years of shared records. Espen held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Mats in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Espen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Mats 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Mats moved ahead of Espen in Norway · Boys — #41 and #42 the year before became #42 and #40.
- Longest-running competitions
Espen and Mats were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 74 years, from 1949 to 2025, ending at #430 and #228.
List by list
Norway · Boys74 shared years, 1949–2025
Espen held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Mats in 28.
Highest recorded here: Espen #8 in 1982, Mats #21 in 1989.
The order changed in 1998: Mats moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #41 and #42; by 1998 that had become #42 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Espen #430, Mats #228.
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 Espen
Pairs where Espen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aksel vs Espen
Aksel and Espen were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #430.
Aksel · Espen · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Espen
Anders and Espen were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #430.
Anders · Espen · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Espen
Andreas and Espen were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #430.
Andreas · Espen · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Espen
Arne and Espen were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #430.
Arne · Espen · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Mats
Pairs where Mats shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Glenn vs Mats
Over 57 shared years in Norway · Boys, Mats rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #293 and #315 in 1953 to #545 and #93 in 2012.
Glenn · Mats · 57 shared years, 1953–2012 · Mirrored each other
- Raymond vs Mats
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Mats rose about as far as Raymond fell — from #240 and #330 in 1949 to #487 and #61 in 2008.
Raymond · Mats · 55 shared years, 1949–2008 · Mirrored each other
- Ronny vs Mats
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Mats rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #336 and #330 in 1949 to #515 and #81 in 2011.
Ronny · Mats · 55 shared years, 1949–2011 · Mirrored each other
- Mats vs Sindre
Mats and Sindre changed places 26 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #228 and #271.
Mats · Sindre · 74 shared years, 1949–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Espen | Mats |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #430 (2025) | Norway · Boys #228 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Espen has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mats.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Espen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #315 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: #8 among boys in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Mats
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #330 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1949–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1989 (recorded 1949–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #228 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys