Martin vs Paul
Martin and Paulcompared 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 Paul #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Martin was ranked #99 and Paul #53 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #60 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Martin was ranked #102 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #216 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #352 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #346 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Martin and Paul over time
Martin and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 272 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Martin in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 1969, Martin moved ahead of Paul in Norway · Boys — #94 and #93 the year before became #90 and #97.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Martin and Paul changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #278.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Martin and Paul averaged 47.9 places apart, ending at #97 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Martin and Paul were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 41 years, from 1952 to 1992, ending at #97 and #53.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Martin #109 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #83 and #73 in Norway · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #60 and #370.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2024
Martin held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Paul in 22.
Highest recorded here: Martin #1 in 1992, Paul #67 in 1946.
The order changed in 1969: Martin moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #94 and #93; by 1969 that had become #90 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #60, Paul #370.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Martin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paul in 45.
Highest recorded here: Martin #9 in 1964, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order changed in 2009: Martin moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #81 and #76; by 2009 that had become #74 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #102, Paul #286.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys41 shared years, 1952–1992
Martin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 41.
Highest recorded here: Martin #41 in 1967, Paul #4 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #97, Paul #53.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1954–1992
Martin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 32.
Highest recorded here: Martin #34 in 1963, Paul #3 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #99, Paul #53.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Martin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Paul in 15.
Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Martin moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #259 and #259; by 2013 that had become #268 and #285.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #346, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Martin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Paul in 19.
Highest recorded here: Martin #49 in 1997, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Martin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #272 and #249; by 2024 that had become #216 and #278.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #216, Paul #278.
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 | Martin | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Latin (Ancient Roman) | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin is recorded with a Latin (Ancient Roman) origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Martin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Martin's recorded meaning differs from Paul'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
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
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys