Keith vs Martin
Keith 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, Keith was ranked #81 and Martin #39 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1969, Keith was ranked #97 and Martin #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Keith was ranked #577 and Martin #102 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Keith was ranked #339 and Martin #109 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keith was ranked #3688 and Martin #346 among boys in England and Wales.
Keith and Martin over time
Keith and Martin appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Keith 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.
Keith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Martin in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Martin moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1960 as Keith fell out of it to #51, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1957, Martin moved ahead of Keith in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #42 and #51 the year before became #50 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Keith and Martin changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #577 and #102.
- Longest-running competitions
Keith and Martin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #577 and #102.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Keith #379 in 1996, Martin #109 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Keith held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Martin in 51.
Highest recorded here: Keith #17 in 1975, Martin #9 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Keith #577, Martin #102.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Keith #379 in 1996, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keith #3688, Martin #346.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1969
Keith held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Martin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Keith #40 in 1952, Martin #41 in 1967.
The order changed in 1957: Martin moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #42 and #51; by 1957 that had become #50 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Keith #97, Martin #44.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1967
Keith held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Martin in 8.
Highest recorded here: Keith #33 in 1954, Martin #34 in 1963.
The order changed in 1960: Martin moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #40 and #41; by 1960 that had become #51 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Keith #81, Martin #39.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2010
Keith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 12.
Highest recorded here: Keith #143 in 1997, Martin #49 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Keith #339, Martin #109.
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 | Keith | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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)); Keith does not have one recorded yet.
- Keith has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Martin.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; Keith doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Keith
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #40 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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