Matthew vs Nicholas

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

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
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Nicholas

Boy #117 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"people's champion, victorious"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

English Greek French Italian Russian German Dutch

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#117
Total SSA Count
3,025
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Nick, Nicky, Nico

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nicholas →

Popularity Comparison

Matthew Rank #33
Nicholas Rank #117

Matthew is more popular, ranked #33 vs #117 for Nicholas.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Matthew ___

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

Nicholas ___

  • Nicholas James
  • Nicholas Alexander
  • Nicholas Thomas
  • Nicholas William
  • Nicholas Robert
  • Nicholas Edward

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Matthew

Luke John Mark Sarah Hannah

If you choose Nicholas

Alexander Sebastian Charlotte Sophia Natalie

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 Matthew or Nicholas more popular?

Matthew is more popular, ranked #33 compared to Nicholas at #117 in the United States.

What do Matthew and Nicholas mean?

Matthew means "gift of God" (Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh origin). Nicholas means "people's champion, victorious" (Greek origin).

Are Matthew and Nicholas boy or girl names?

Matthew is primarily a boy name. Nicholas is primarily a boy name.

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