Gordon vs Martin
Gordon and Martincompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Gordon was ranked #96 and Martin #39 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1967, Gordon was ranked #98 and Martin #41 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Gordon was ranked #277 and Martin #73 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Gordon was ranked #749 and Martin #79 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gordon was ranked #2443 and Martin #346 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gordon was ranked #727 and Martin #352 among boys in Scotland.
Gordon and Martin over time
Gordon and Martin appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gordon 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 2 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 1956, Martin moved ahead of Gordon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #62 and #65 the year before became #64 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Gordon and Martin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #749 and #79.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gordon #661 in 1997, Martin #109 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1964–2018
Gordon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 47.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #83 in 1976, Martin #9 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Gordon #749, Martin #79.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gordon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #661 in 1997, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gordon #2443, Martin #346.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1952–1967
Gordon held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Martin in 12.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #58 in 1952, Martin #41 in 1967.
The order changed in 1956: Martin moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #62 and #65; by 1956 that had become #64 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Gordon #98, Martin #41.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1967
Gordon held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Martin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #51 in 1956, Martin #34 in 1963.
The order changed in 1955: Martin moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #54 and #58; by 1955 that had become #57 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Gordon #96, Martin #39.
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 | Gordon | Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin (Ancient Roman) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ |
| 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 #727 (2024) | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Gordon does not have one recorded yet.
- Gordon and Martin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; Gordon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gordon
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #58 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 recorded1954–1967
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1967).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Martin
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #83 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys