Idris vs Matthew

Idris 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 2014, Idris was ranked #398 and Matthew #11 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Idris was ranked #676 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Idris was ranked #619 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Idris was ranked #153 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Idris was ranked #228 and Matthew #421 among boys in Norway.

Idris and Matthew over time

Idris and Matthew appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Idris in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Idris 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.

Repeatedly exchanged positions
Idris and Matthew changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1968 and 2023, ending at #228 and #421.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Idris held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 29.
Highest recorded here: Idris #153 in 2024, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Idris #153, Matthew #149.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1968–2023
Idris held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matthew in 14.
Highest recorded here: Idris #228 in 2023, Matthew #267 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Idris #228, Matthew #421.

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 Matthew

Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Matthew vs Adrian
In 1964 they stood at #59 and #65 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #55 and #348.
Matthew · Adrian · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Matthew vs Ashley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1990, Ashley #53 in 1989.
Matthew · Ashley · 11 shared years, 1984–1995 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1990 New Zealand ranking
Matthew vs Barry
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Barry #90 in 1997.
Matthew · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1997 Northern Ireland ranking
Matthew vs Ben
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1982, Ben #41 in 1981.
Matthew · Ben · 26 shared years, 1976–2004 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1982 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Idris, Matthew
Field	Idris	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	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	Norway · Boys #200 (2025)	Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	94/100	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); Idris does not have one recorded yet.
Idris and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Idris doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Idris

Popularity journey

First recorded1968
First recorded at #540 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #200 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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