Namewise

Francis vs Matthew

Francis 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, Francis was ranked #278 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1961, Francis was ranked #93 and Matthew #48 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Francis was ranked #309 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1964, Francis was ranked #93 and Matthew #58 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Francis was ranked #352 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Francis was ranked #193 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2013, Francis was ranked #493 and Matthew #506 among boys in Norway.

Francis and Matthew over time

Francis and Matthew appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Francis in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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 1987, Matthew moved ahead of Francis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #58 and #59 the year before became #63 and #55.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Francis and Matthew changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2013, ending at #493 and #506.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Francis and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #193 and #153.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Francis #188 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Francis held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Matthew in 39.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #16 in 1964, Matthew #15 in 2007.

    The order changed in 1987: Matthew moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #58 and #59; by 1987 that had become #63 and #55.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #309, Matthew #55.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Francis #188 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #193, Matthew #153.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #100 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #278, Matthew #42.

  • Norway · Boys18 shared years, 1969–2013

    Francis held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Matthew in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #359 in 1987, Matthew #267 in 1985.

    The order changed in 2013: Francis moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #515 and #392; by 2013 that had become #493 and #506.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Francis #493, Matthew #506.

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 Francis

Pairs where Francis 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 Francis, Matthew
FieldFrancisMatthew
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom 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.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈmæθ.juː/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #193 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Matthew has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
  • Francis and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Francis

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

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