Eugene vs Matthew
Eugene 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 2019, Eugene was ranked #418 and Matthew #16 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Eugene was ranked #572 and Matthew #42 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Eugene was ranked #1517 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Eugene and Matthew over time
Eugene and Matthew appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Eugene 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.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Eugene 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Matthew moved ahead of Eugene in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #75 and #85 the year before became #81 and #71.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eugene and Matthew changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2022, ending at #572 and #42.
- Longest-running competitions
Eugene and Matthew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #572 and #42.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Eugene #669 in 1998, Matthew #6 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #50 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #572 and #42.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2022
Eugene held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Matthew in 47.
Highest recorded here: Eugene #47 in 1965, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order changed in 1976: Matthew moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #75 and #85; by 1976 that had become #81 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Eugene #572, Matthew #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Eugene held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 29.
Highest recorded here: Eugene #669 in 1998, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eugene #1517, Matthew #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2019
Eugene held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Eugene #186 in 1999, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Eugene #418, Matthew #16.
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 | Eugene | 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 | England and Wales · Boys #1517 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Eugene does not have one recorded yet.
- Eugene has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Matthew.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Eugene doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Eugene
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #50 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 recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1517 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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