Matthias vs Nathan
Matthias and Nathancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Matthias was ranked #468 and Nathan #71 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Matthias was ranked #352 and Nathan #85 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Matthias was ranked #453 and Nathan #88 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Matthias was ranked #409 and Nathan #344 among boys in Norway.
Matthias and Nathan over time
Matthias and Nathan appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Matthias 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.
Matthias reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nathan in 1. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Matthias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #366 in 2022, Nathan #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matthias #453, Nathan #88.
Norway · Boys14 shared years, 1982–2025
Matthias held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nathan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #385 in 2001, Nathan #257 in 2012.
The order changed in 2011: Nathan moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #385 and #560; by 2011 that had become #509 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthias #409, Nathan #344.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1973–2025
Matthias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #320 in 1973, Nathan #26 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthias #468, Nathan #71.
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 Nathan
Pairs where Nathan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ben vs Nathan
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #27 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #509 and #88.
Ben · Nathan · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nathan vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #20 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #98 and #395.
Nathan · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Nathan
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Nathan rose about as far as George fell — from #61 and #267 in 1968 to #112 and #71 in 2025.
George · Nathan · 54 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Nathan vs Marcus
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Nathan rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #267 and #137 in 1968 to #71 and #232 in 2025.
Nathan · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Matthias | Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈneɪθən/ |
| 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 #409 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Matthias does not have one recorded yet.
- Matthias and Nathan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Matthias doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Matthias
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #469 among boys in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #409 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys