Matthew vs Theodore
Matthew and Theodorecompared 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 2023, Matthew was ranked #85 and Theodore #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Matthew was ranked #99 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #149 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #42 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #73 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Matthew was ranked #55 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Matthew and Theodore over time
Matthew and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Matthew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Theodore in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Matthew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Theodore 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Theodore moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2017 as Matthew fell out of it to #81, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2015, Theodore moved ahead of Matthew in England and Wales · Boys — #49 and #59 the year before became #47 and #45.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Matthew held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Theodore in 10.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #6 in 1996, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2015: Theodore moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #49 and #59; by 2015 that had become #47 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matthew #149, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2025
Matthew held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Theodore in 1.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #15 in 2007, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Theodore moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #42 and #56; by 2025 that had become #55 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthew #55, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
Matthew held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Theodore in 2.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #2 in 2001, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Theodore moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #31 and #57; by 2023 that had become #57 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matthew #42, Theodore #32.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2013–2023
Matthew held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theodore in 6.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #37 in 2014, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #44 and #59; by 2017 that had become #81 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matthew #99, Theodore #6.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2015–2023
Matthew held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Theodore in 8.
Highest recorded here: Matthew #52 in 2015, Theodore #5 in 2022.
The order changed in 2016: Theodore moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #52 and #59; by 2016 that had become #53 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matthew #85, Theodore #5.
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 | Matthew | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæθ.juː/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #55 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Matthew is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Matthew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- Matthew's recorded meaning differs from Theodore's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Matthew a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theodore a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys