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Mateo

♂ Boy

Pronounced mah-TAY-oh /məˈteɪ.oʊ/High

Meaning: Gift of God; given by GodHigh

In 30 seconds: The Spanish form of Matthew, from Hebrew meaning 'gift of God.' Mateo has rapidly climbed U.S. charts, reflecting the growing influence of Spanish-origin names.
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Origin HighHebrew, Spanish
MeaningGift of God; given by God
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 47,071

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719042017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Mateo is the Spanish and Italian-influenced form of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew Mattityahu — a compound of mattan (gift) and Yahu (Yahweh). It was the name of the apostle and evangelist Matthew, writer of the first Gospel of the New Testament.

Mateo has been popular throughout the Spanish-speaking world for centuries. In the United States, it entered the top-100 boys' names in the early 2000s and has surged rapidly since, reflecting the growing Hispanic cultural influence on American naming patterns and reaching the top ten by the 2020s.

Did you know? Mateo, Matthew, Matthias, and Matteo are all forms of the same Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh,' borne by one of the twelve apostles and the author of the first Gospel.

Variations

MatthewMatteoMatthiasMatheo

Nicknames

TeoMattMat

Famous Bearers

  • ★Mateo Kovacic (1994–)
    Croatian professional footballer who plays for Manchester City.

If you like Mateo…

Sebastian— shares the Spanish/Latin classic feel
Santiago— another top Spanish-origin boys' name
Gabriel— biblical name with the same warm, melodic quality
Luca— similar Italian/Spanish-origin classic
Leo— short, strong classic popular in Spanish-speaking families

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mateo mean?

Mateo is the Spanish form of Matthew, from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God' or 'gift of Yahweh.'

How do you pronounce Mateo?

Mateo is pronounced mah-TAY-oh /məˈteɪ.oʊ/ — three syllables, with stress on the second.

Is Mateo a boy or girl name?

Mateo is used exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalent is Matea.

How popular is Mateo?

Mateo has climbed steadily to reach the U.S. top ten boys' names by the early 2020s, driven by the growing popularity of Spanish-heritage names.