Matthew vs Paul
Matthew and Paul compared 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 1998, Matthew was ranked #2 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Matthew was ranked #4 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #42 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Matthew was ranked #55 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #73 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Matthew was ranked #153 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Matthew was ranked #421 and Paul #478 among boys in Norway.
Matthew and Paul over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Matthew and Paul over time
Matthew and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 248 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paul in 2.
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.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Matthew 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 1972, Matthew moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #7 and #6 the year before became #4 and #6.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Matthew and Paul averaged 30.5 places apart, ending at #4 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Matthew and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #153 and #602.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #6 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Matthew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 34.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #15 in 2007, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order changed in 1998: Matthew moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #38 and #26; by 1998 that had become #21 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthew #55, Paul #286.
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1966–2023
Matthew held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Paul in 46.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #267 in 1985, Paul #93 in 1968.
The order changed in 2023: Matthew moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #400 and #335; by 2023 that had become #421 and #478.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matthew #421, Paul #478.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys41 shared years, 1957–1998
Matthew held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Paul in 15.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #1 in 1982, Paul #4 in 1966.
The order changed in 1972: Matthew moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #7 and #6; by 1972 that had become #4 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Matthew #4, Paul #86.
New Zealand · Boys40 shared years, 1958–1998
Matthew held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Paul in 17.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #1 in 1990, Paul #3 in 1965.
The order changed in 1975: Matthew moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #7 and #6; by 1975 that had become #7 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Matthew #2, Paul #86.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Matthew held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #6 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthew #153, Paul #602.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Matthew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #1 in 1997, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matthew #42, 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.
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 Matthew
Pairs where Matthew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matthew vs Ashley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1990, Ashley #53 in 1989.
Matthew · Ashley · 11 shared years, 1984–1995 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Barry
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Barry #90 in 1997.
Matthew · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Ben
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1982, Ben #41 in 1981.
Matthew · Ben · 26 shared years, 1976–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Bradley
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1997, Bradley #68 in 1998.
Matthew · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other comparisons involving Paul
Pairs where Paul shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Paul vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #2014.
Paul · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paul vs Craig
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #81 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #1705.
Paul · Craig · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paul vs Mitchell
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #79 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #1538.
Paul · Mitchell · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Paul
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #602.
Patrick · Paul · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Matthew | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Matthaios, from Hebrew Mattithiah, combining 'mattat' (gift) with 'Yahweh' — 'gift of God'. Matthew was a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles, traditionally credited as author of the first Gospel. | 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 | Biblical Hebrew | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæθ.juː/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Matthew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Matthew'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
Matthew
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys