John vs Matthew

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

John

Boy #21 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"Yahweh is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Irish American Christian Jewish

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#21
Total SSA Count
8,047
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Johnny, Jack, Jonny

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for John →

Matthew

Boy #33 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"gift of God"

Origin: Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh

Cultural Roots

Hebrew English French Italian Greek

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#33
Total SSA Count
7,078
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Matt, Matty, Mat

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Matthew →

Popularity Comparison

John Rank #21
Matthew Rank #33

John is more popular, ranked #21 vs #33 for Matthew.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

John ___

  • John Thomas
  • John Michael
  • John William
  • John Patrick
  • John Edward
  • John Henry

Matthew ___

  • Matthew James
  • Matthew Thomas
  • Matthew David
  • Matthew Andrew
  • Matthew John
  • Matthew Robert

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose John

Mary James Catherine Patrick Elizabeth

If you choose Matthew

Luke John Mark Sarah Hannah

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is John or Matthew more popular?

John is more popular, ranked #21 compared to Matthew at #33 in the United States.

What do John and Matthew mean?

John means "Yahweh is gracious" (Hebrew origin). Matthew means "gift of God" (Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh origin).

Are John and Matthew boy or girl names?

John is primarily a boy name. Matthew is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: John ← Full profile: Matthew Browse all baby names