"gift of God"
Origin: Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh
Language: Hebrew
Matthew
Pronunciation: [ m-ATHY-oo ]
Does Matthew flow with your last name?
A timeless gift — the apostle who shaped Christian Scripture
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Meaning & Origin
"gift of Yahweh"
Origin: Hebrew via Greek Matthaios
Language: Hebrew
"gift of Yahweh"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
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The Story of Matthew
Matthew comes from the Hebrew Mattithyahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God,' derived from 'mattan' (gift) and 'Yah' (a name for God in Hebrew). In the New Testament, Matthew was a tax collector who became one of Jesus's twelve apostles and is the attributed author of the Gospel of Matthew — the first gospel in the New Testament. His transformation from despised tax collector to evangelist is one of Christianity's most powerful conversion stories.
Matthew was the #1 or #2 boys' name in the United States throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, a dominant name for an entire generation. While it has settled into the top 15-20 today, it remains one of the most recognizable men's names in the English-speaking world.
Saint Matthew the Apostle is the patron saint of accountants, bankers, and tax collectors — a nod to his pre-Christian profession. The Gospel of Matthew, written for a Jewish-Christian audience, begins the New Testament and contains the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's Prayer.
Historical Record
Matthew first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 1,613,793 babies have been named Matthew in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Matthew is past its peak , currently ranked #33 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Matthew was the #1 boys' name in the US in 1983 — an entire generation carries this name
- The Sermon on the Mount, recorded only in the Gospel of Matthew, contains some of the most quoted lines in the English language including the Beatitudes
Matthew in Other Languages
French
Matthieu
German
Matthias
Hebrew
Mattithyahu
Italian
Matteo
Spanish
Mateo
Popularity Over Time
#33
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1995
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Matthew
M
Matthew Bellamy
Musician
1978
British singer and guitarist, lead member of rock band Muse
M
Matt Damon
Actor
1970
American actor and screenwriter known for Good Will Hunting (which he co-wrote with Ben Affleck) and the Jason Bourne se...
American actor and screenwriter known for Good Will Hunting (which he co-wrote with Ben Affleck) and the Jason Bourne series
M
Matthew Perry
Actor
1969
Canadian-American actor known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends
M
Matthew McConaughey
Actor
1969
Academy Award-winning American actor known for Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective
M
Matthew the Apostle
Religious
One of the twelve apostles of Jesus, former tax collector, attributed author of the Gospel of Matthew
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Compare Matthew with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #33
- Total SSA Count
- 7,078
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English French Italian Greek
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Matt
Matty
Mat
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, 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, Italian heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Hebrew heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Matthew
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Matthew is also used as a girl name, ranked #17263.
View Matthew as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew
What does the name Matthew mean?
"gift of God" (from Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh). "gift of Yahweh" (from Hebrew via Greek Matthaios). "gift of Yahweh" (from Hebrew). Matthew comes from the Hebrew Mattithyahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God,' derived from 'mattan' (gift) and 'Yah' (a name for God in Hebrew). In the New Testament, Matthew was a tax collector who became one of Jesus's twelve apostles and is the attributed author of the Gospel of Matthew — the first gospel in the New Testament. His transformation from despised tax collector to evangelist is one of Christianity's most powerful conversion stories.
What is the origin of the name Matthew?
Matthew has Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh, Hebrew via Greek Matthaios, Hebrew, English, French, Italian, and Greek origins. In Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh, it means "gift of God". In Hebrew via Greek Matthaios, it means "gift of Yahweh". In Hebrew, it means "gift of Yahweh".
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #33. As a girl name, it is ranked #17263. Matthew is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Matthew?
Matthew is pronounced m-ATHY-oo.
How popular is the name Matthew?
Matthew is currently ranked #33 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Matthew?
Common nicknames for Matthew include Matt, Matty, and Mat.
What are good middle names for Matthew?
Popular middle name pairings include Matthew James, Matthew Thomas, Matthew David, Matthew Andrew, Matthew John, and Matthew Robert.
What are good sibling names for Matthew?
Names that pair well with Matthew as siblings include Luke, John, Mark, Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth.
How many syllables does Matthew have?
Matthew has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Matthew a common or rare name?
Matthew is a very popular name, ranked #33 among boy names in the United States.
What boy names are similar to Matthew?
About the Name Matthew
Matthew is a boy name with Hebrew, English, French, Italian, and Greek origins . The name means "gift of God" in Hebrew Mattityahu from mattan and Yahweh .
Is Matthew a boy or girl name? Matthew is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #33 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #17,263. Matthew is more commonly used as a boy name.
Matthew is currently ranked #33 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Matthew has 3 syllables and is pronounced m-ATHY-oo, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Matthew include Matt, Matty, and Mat. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Matthew include Matteo, Matthias, Mattias, Matt, Mattheo . 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