Gary vs Matthew
Gary 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1984, Gary was ranked #88 and Matthew #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Matthew #6 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Gary was ranked #352 and Matthew #31 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Matthew #42 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Matthew over time
Gary and Matthew appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gary 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.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Matthew 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 1966, Matthew moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #25 and #26 the year before became #31 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Matthew changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #785 and #42.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Matthew averaged 48.9 places apart, ending at #88 and #1.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Matthew were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #785 and #42.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Matthew in 33.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Matthew #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Matthew #149.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1957–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Matthew in 17.
Highest recorded here: Gary #14 in 1957, Matthew #1 in 1984.
The order changed in 1966: Matthew moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #25 and #26; by 1966 that had become #31 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Matthew #1.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1958–1981
Gary held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Matthew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gary #21 in 1958, Matthew #3 in 1976.
The order changed in 1968: Matthew moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #29 and #37; by 1968 that had become #35 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Matthew #6.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2022
Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 20.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Gary #352, Matthew #31.
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 | Gary | Matthew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. | 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 | Germanic (surname origin) | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary is recorded with a Germanic (surname origin) origin, while Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Gary and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- Gary's recorded meaning differs from Matthew's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 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