Marcus vs Nathan
Marcus and Nathancompared 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 2014, Marcus was ranked #90 and Nathan #52 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #176 and Nathan #62 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #232 and Nathan #71 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2018, Marcus was ranked #88 and Nathan #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #233 and Nathan #88 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #144 and Nathan #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #150 and Nathan #344 among boys in Norway.
Marcus and Nathan over time
Marcus and Nathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 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 1990, Nathan moved ahead of Marcus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #129 and #149 the year before became #152 and #116.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Marcus and Nathan changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1971 and 2018, ending at #88 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Marcus and Nathan averaged 30.3 places apart, ending at #88 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Nathan rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #137 and #267 in 1968 to #232 and #71 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Marcus and Nathan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #232 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Marcus #83 in 2001, Nathan #24 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1968–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Nathan in 37.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #113 in 1973, Nathan #26 in 1999.
The order changed in 1990: Nathan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #129 and #149; by 1990 that had become #152 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #232, Nathan #71.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #83 in 2001, Nathan #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #233, Nathan #88.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1982–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Nathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #24 in 2001, Nathan #236 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #150, Nathan #344.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #100 in 2003, Nathan #15 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #144, Nathan #118.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1971–2018
Marcus held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nathan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #49 in 2010, Nathan #14 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Marcus #88, Nathan #84.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–2014
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #78 in 2010, Nathan #23 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Marcus #90, Nathan #52.
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 | Marcus | Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈneɪθən/ | |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Marcus and Nathan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys