Namewise

Martin vs Matthew

Martin 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 1992, Martin was ranked #97 and Matthew #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1992, Martin was ranked #99 and Matthew #1 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #216 and Matthew #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Martin was ranked #102 and Matthew #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Martin was ranked #69 and Matthew #421 among boys in Norway.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #352 and Matthew #73 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #346 and Matthew #149 among boys in England and Wales.

Martin and Matthew over time

Martin and Matthew appear together in 6 published lists, across 230 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Martin in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Martin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Matthew 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1961, Matthew moved ahead of Martin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #52 and #61 the year before became #53 and #48.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Martin and Matthew averaged 48.7 places apart, ending at #97 and #1.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Matthew rose about as far as Martin fell — from #49 and #78 in 1957 to #97 and #1 in 1992.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Martin and Matthew were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 36 years, from 1957 to 1992, ending at #97 and #1.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Martin #109 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Martin held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Matthew in 31.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #9 in 1964, Matthew #15 in 2007.

    The order changed in 1995: Matthew moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #40 and #47; by 1995 that had become #45 and #43.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #102, Matthew #55.

  • Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1966–2023

    Martin held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Matthew in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #1 in 1992, Matthew #267 in 1985.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Martin #69, Matthew #421.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1957–1992

    Martin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Matthew in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #41 in 1967, Matthew #1 in 1982.

    The order changed in 1961: Matthew moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #52 and #61; by 1961 that had become #53 and #48.

    Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #97, Matthew #1.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Martin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Matthew #6 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #346, Matthew #149.

  • New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1958–1992

    Martin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Matthew in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #34 in 1963, Matthew #1 in 1992.

    The order changed in 1967: Matthew moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #37 and #40; by 1967 that had become #39 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #99, Matthew #1.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Martin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matthew in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #49 in 1997, Matthew #1 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #216, 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.

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 Martin

Pairs where Martin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Matthew

Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Martin, Matthew
FieldMartinMatthew
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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.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.
OriginLatin (Ancient Roman)Biblical Hebrew
Pronunciation/ˈmɑɹ.tɪn//ˈmæθ.juː/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #69 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Martin is recorded with a Latin (Ancient Roman) origin, while Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
  • Martin and Matthew both have 2 syllables.
  • Martin's recorded meaning differs from Matthew's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Martin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Matthew

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1957–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2023).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys