Jesse vs Matthew
Jesse 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 2014, Jesse was ranked #93 and Matthew #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2017, Jesse was ranked #99 and Matthew #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Jesse and Matthew over time
Jesse and Matthew appear together in 5 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jesse in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jesse 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 2018, Jesse moved ahead of Matthew in England and Wales · Boys — #90 and #67 the year before became #75 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse and Matthew averaged 49.1 places apart, ending at #93 and #42.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Matthew were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1985 to 2014, ending at #93 and #42.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jesse #18 in 1990, Matthew #1 in 1990.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 42.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Matthew #55.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1981–2017
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 32.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, Matthew #1 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jesse #99, Matthew #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1985–2014
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Matthew #1 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jesse #93, Matthew #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matthew in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Jesse moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #90 and #67; by 2018 that had become #75 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Matthew #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Matthew #42.
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 | Jesse | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (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); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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