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.
Side by side
| Field | Francis | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #193 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); 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
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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 #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys