Martin vs Simon
Martin and Simoncompared 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 1992, Martin was ranked #99 and Simon #42 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1992, Martin was ranked #97 and Simon #61 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Martin was ranked #69 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Martin was ranked #102 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Martin was ranked #221 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #346 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Martin was ranked #352 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Martin and Simon over time
Martin and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 262 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Simon in 2.
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 4 of those lists, and Simon in none. 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 1965, Simon moved ahead of Martin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #48 and #61 the year before became #47 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Martin and Simon changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #346 and #524.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Martin and Simon averaged 29.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #61.
- Mirrored each other
Over 32 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Simon rose about as far as Martin fell — from #58 and #91 in 1954 to #99 and #42 in 1992.
- Longest-running competitions
Martin and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 38 years, from 1955 to 1992, ending at #97 and #61.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Martin #109 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys78 shared years, 1945–2025
Martin held the stronger position in 78 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Martin #1 in 1992, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #69, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Martin held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Martin #9 in 1964, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #102, Simon #244.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys38 shared years, 1955–1992
Martin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Simon in 28.
Highest recorded here: Martin #41 in 1967, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1965: Simon moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #48 and #61; by 1965 that had become #47 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #97, Simon #61.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1954–1992
Martin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Simon in 22.
Highest recorded here: Martin #34 in 1963, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1964: Simon moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #34 and #42; by 1964 that had become #38 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Martin #99, Simon #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Martin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Simon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Martin moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #260 and #238; by 2009 that had become #257 and #301.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #346, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Martin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Martin #49 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Martin #221, Simon #311.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Martin and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; Simon 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
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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys