Joseph vs Matthew
Joseph 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, Joseph was ranked #34 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #35 and Matthew #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #59 and Matthew #153 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #69 and Matthew #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #430 and Matthew #421 among boys in Norway.
Joseph and Matthew over time
Joseph and Matthew appear together in 6 published lists, across 296 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 3 of those lists, Joseph in 2. 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 2000, Joseph moved ahead of Matthew in England and Wales · Boys — #8 and #6 the year before became #7 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joseph and Matthew changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1958 and 2023, ending at #69 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Joseph and Matthew averaged 30.8 places apart, ending at #59 and #153.
- Longest-running competitions
Joseph and Matthew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #59 and #153.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Joseph #18 in 1988, Matthew #1 in 1990.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys67 shared years, 1957–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Matthew in 55.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #32 in 2005, Matthew #1 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #35, Matthew #85.
New Zealand · Boys65 shared years, 1958–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Matthew in 52.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #18 in 1988, Matthew #1 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #69, Matthew #99.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Matthew in 28.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #11 in 1964, Matthew #15 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Matthew moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #33 and #38; by 1998 that had become #40 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, Matthew #55.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1968–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Matthew in 21.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #272 in 1985, Matthew #267 in 1985.
The order changed in 2018: Matthew moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #350 and #436; by 2018 that had become #516 and #400.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #430, Matthew #421.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Matthew in 4.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Matthew #6 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Joseph moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #8 and #6; by 2000 that had become #7 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #59, Matthew #153.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Matthew in 27.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, Matthew #1 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Joseph moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #76 and #57; by 2024 that had become #34 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, 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 | Joseph | 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 | /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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Matthew; Joseph 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
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys