Martin vs Russell
Martin and Russellcompared 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 1985, Martin was ranked #69 and Russell #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1979, Martin was ranked #87 and Russell #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Martin was ranked #90 and Russell #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Martin was ranked #180 and Russell #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #352 and Russell #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Martin was ranked #363 and Russell #953 among boys in England and Wales.
Martin and Russell over time
Martin and Russell appear together in 4 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Russell in 0.
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.
Russell 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1959, Martin moved ahead of Russell in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #47 and #46 the year before became #51 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Martin and Russell changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1979, ending at #87 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Martin and Russell averaged 22.1 places apart, ending at #69 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Martin and Russell were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #363 and #953.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Martin #109 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1964–2022
Martin held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Russell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Martin #9 in 1964, Russell #205 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Martin #90, Russell #657.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1985
Martin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Russell in 5.
Highest recorded here: Martin #41 in 1967, Russell #46 in 1958.
The order changed in 1959: Martin moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #47 and #46; by 1959 that had become #51 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Martin #69, Russell #97.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Martin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Russell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #363, Russell #953.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1979
Martin held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Russell in 5.
Highest recorded here: Martin #34 in 1963, Russell #37 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Martin #87, Russell #85.
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.
- Martin vs Roger
In 1945 they stood at #83 and #86 in Norway · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2013 they were #27 and #514.
Martin · Roger · 62 shared years, 1945–2013 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Paul
In 1945 they stood at #83 and #73 in Norway · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #60 and #370.
Martin · Paul · 80 shared years, 1945–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #9 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #402.
Martin · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Martin vs Aksel
Martin and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #69 and #25.
Martin · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Martin | Russell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (Ancient Roman) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #953 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Russell does not have one recorded yet.
- Martin and Russell both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; Russell doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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 #363 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Russell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #49 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New Zealand, in 1959 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #953 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys