Leif vs Matias
Leif and Matiascompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leif was ranked #225 and Matias #154 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leif was ranked #814 and Matias #576 among boys in England and Wales.
Leif and Matias over time
Leif and Matias appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Matias held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leif 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 1 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 1994, Matias moved ahead of Leif in Norway · Boys — #197 and #216 the year before became #181 and #171.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leif and Matias changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #814 and #576.
- Longest-running competitions
Leif and Matias were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #225 and #154.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Leif #814 in 2024, Matias #430 in 2022.
List by list
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2025
Leif held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Matias in 32.
Highest recorded here: Leif #18 in 1946, Matias #109 in 1999.
The order changed in 1994: Matias moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #197 and #216; by 1994 that had become #181 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leif #225, Matias #154.
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2024
Leif held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Matias in 20.
Highest recorded here: Leif #814 in 2024, Matias #430 in 2022.
The order changed in 2006: Matias moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #1617 and #2418; by 2006 that had become #4052 and #2087.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leif #814, Matias #576.
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 Leif
Pairs where Leif shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aksel vs Leif
Aksel and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #225.
Aksel · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Leif
Anders and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #225.
Anders · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Leif
Andreas and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #225.
Andreas · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Leif
Arne and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #225.
Arne · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Leif | Matias |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'heir' or 'descendant'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Norse | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /leɪf/ (also /liːf/) | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leiv | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Sweden #88 (2025) | Norway · Boys #154 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leif has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Matias does not have one recorded yet.
- Leif has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Matias.
- A meaning is recorded for Leif; Matias doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Leif a "high" Data Confidence level and Matias a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Leif
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #17 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: #17 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #225 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Matias
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #358 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #109 among boys in Norway, in 1999 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #154 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys