"gift of God, gift of Yahweh"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Romanian
Matei
Does Matei flow with your last name?
Romania's classic form of 'gift of God'
Romanian
Eastern European
Classic
Elegant
Vintage
Sophisticated
Spiritual
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"devoted to God"
Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Language: Romanian
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The Story of Matei
Matei is the Romanian form of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name 'Mattityahu' (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God.' The name entered Romanian through the Biblical apostle and evangelist Matthew, and has been used in Romania and Moldova for centuries as both a secular and religious given name.
Matei has experienced a revival as Romanian culture gains international attention and diaspora communities around the world preserve traditional naming practices. As Italian Matteo and Spanish Mateo have risen globally, their Romanian cousin Matei has benefited from the same international trend toward Romance-language Matthews.
Matei is deeply embedded in Romanian Orthodox Christian culture, connected to Saint Matthew the Apostle. The name day (Ziua numelui) for Matei is celebrated on November 16, making it part of the rich Romanian tradition of name day celebrations.
Historical Record
Matei first appeared in US Social Security records in 1996.
Over 268 babies have been named Matei in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Matei is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #5,302 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Matei has been consistently popular in Romania for over 500 years
- The name Matei Basarab was borne by a 17th-century ruler of Wallachia (Romania)
- Saint Matthew's feast day is celebrated on November 16 in the Orthodox Church
Matei in Other Languages
French
Matthieu
German
Matthias
Hebrew
מַתִּתְיָהוּ
Italian
Matteo
Spanish
Mateo
Romanian
Matei
Popularity Over Time
#5,302
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Matei
M
Matei Vișniec
Writer
1956
Romanian-French playwright and poet, one of the most performed Romanian dramatists internationally
M
Matei Basarab
Royalty
1580
Voivode (ruler) of Wallachia from 1632 to 1654, known for promoting culture and Orthodox faith
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Compare Matei with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #5,302
- Total SSA Count
- 18
- Cultural Origins
- Romanian Eastern European
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Mati
Matt
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, spiritual style, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, classic style, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, Romanian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, sophisticated style, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, classic style, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Matei
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Matei
Phonetic neighbors that share Matei's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
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Dmitry
Boy
Greek origin
"devoted to Demeter, goddess of harvest"
#5,493 in US
Toma
Boy
Aramaic origin
"twin"
#5,363 in US
Kristoff
Boy
Greek Christophoros origin
"bearer of Christ, Christ-carrier"
#5,282 in US
Zolan
Boy
Turkish via Hungarian origin
"life (variant of Zoltan, life/ruler)"
#5,393 in US
Nikodem
Boy
Greek origin
"victory of the people"
#5,452 in US
Nyko
Boy
Greek nike origin
"victory"
#5,418 in US
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Frequently Asked Questions About Matei
What does the name Matei mean?
"gift of God, gift of Yahweh" (from Hebrew). "devoted to God" (from Biblical Hebrew). Matei is the Romanian form of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name 'Mattityahu' (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God.' The name entered Romanian through the Biblical apostle and evangelist Matthew, and has been used in Romania and Moldova for centuries as both a secular and religious given name.
What is the origin of the name Matei?
Matei has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Romanian, and Eastern European origins. In Hebrew, it means "gift of God, gift of Yahweh". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "devoted to God".
Is Matei a boy or girl name?
Matei is primarily used as a boy name.
How popular is the name Matei?
Matei is currently ranked #5302 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Matei?
Common nicknames for Matei include Mati and Matt.
What are good middle names for Matei?
Popular middle name pairings include Matei Alexandru, Matei Andrei, Matei Ioan, Matei Mihai, Matei Radu, Matei Stefan, and Matei Vlad.
What are good sibling names for Matei?
Names that pair well with Matei as siblings include Ana, Andrei, Elena, Radu, Sofia, Alexandru, and Maria.
How many syllables does Matei have?
Matei has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Matei a common or rare name?
Matei is an uncommon name, ranked #5302 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Matei?
About the Name Matei
Matei is a boy name with Romanian and Eastern European origins . The name means "gift of God, gift of Yahweh" in Hebrew .
Matei is currently ranked #5,302 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Matei has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Matei include Mati and Matt. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Matei include Mateo, Mateus . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis