Namewise

Martin vs Terry

Martin and Terrycompared 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 1968, Martin was ranked #44 and Terry #92 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1972, Martin was ranked #48 and Terry #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Martin was ranked #102 and Terry #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Martin was ranked #221 and Terry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #346 and Terry #2263 among boys in England and Wales.

Martin and Terry over time

Martin and Terry appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Martin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Terry 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.

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 1960, Martin moved ahead of Terry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #51 and #49 the year before became #52 and #63.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Martin and Terry averaged 23.1 places apart, ending at #48 and #90.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Martin and Terry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #102 and #509.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Martin #109 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 19722025

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

    Highest recorded here: Martin #10 in 1973, Terry #177 in 1975.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #102, Terry #509.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

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

    Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #346, Terry #2263.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 19521972

    Martin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Terry in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #41 in 1967, Terry #49 in 1959.

    The order changed in 1960: Martin moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #51 and #49; by 1960 that had become #52 and #63.

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Martin #48, Terry #90.

  • New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 19561968

    Martin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Terry in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #34 in 1963, Terry #76 in 1962.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1968: Martin #44, Terry #92.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Martin, Terry
FieldMartinTerry
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
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.Not yet recorded
OriginLatin (Ancient Roman)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/Not yet recorded
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, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #69 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Terry does not have one recorded yet.
  • Martin and Terry both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Martin; Terry doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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

Terry

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #60 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1972

    Highest recorded position: #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1959 (recorded 1952–1972).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys