Mathias vs Richard
Mathias and Richardcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Mathias was ranked #28 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Mathias was ranked #432 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Mathias was ranked #406 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Mathias and Richard over time
Mathias and Richard appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mathias in 1.
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.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Mathias 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 1988, Mathias moved ahead of Richard in Norway · Boys — #104 and #99 the year before became #85 and #117.
- Mirrored each other
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Boys, Mathias rose about as far as Richard fell — from #307 and #219 in 1945 to #28 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Mathias and Richard were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 67 years, from 1945 to 2023, ending at #28 and #481.
List by list
Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1945–2023
Mathias held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Richard in 30.
Highest recorded here: Mathias #2 in 2004, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1988: Mathias moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #104 and #99; by 1988 that had become #85 and #117.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Mathias #28, Richard #481.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mathias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 29.
Highest recorded here: Mathias #406 in 2024, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mathias #406, Richard #398.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2001–2025
Mathias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 10.
Highest recorded here: Mathias #396 in 2023, Richard #75 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mathias #432, Richard #232.
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 | Mathias | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #41 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Mathias does not have one recorded yet.
- Mathias and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Mathias doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Mathias
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #307 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: #2 among boys in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #41 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys