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Mathias

♂ Boy

Pronounced mah-TEE-us /mɑˈtiː.əs/High

Meaning: Derived from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God', transmitted through Greek as Matthaios and Latin as Matthias.High

In 30 seconds: Mathias is the continental European spelling of Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas. It carries deep biblical roots and a refined, international feel.
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Origin HighHebrew, Latin, Greek
MeaningDerived from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God', transmitted through Greek as Matthaios and Latin as Matthias.
U.S. rank (2025)#312 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,087 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,539

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

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

History & Origin

The name Mathias descends from the Hebrew Mattityahu, a compound of mattan (gift) and Yah (a form of Yahweh). It entered Greek as Matthias and became the name of the apostle elected in Acts 1:26 to fill the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot. The Latin church preserved the double-t spelling, while vernacular European languages simplified it.

By the medieval period, Mathias had become popular across Catholic Europe, borne by several Holy Roman Emperors and kings of Hungary. The single-t spelling became dominant in German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, while English retained Matthias. In the modern era, Mathias charts strongly in France, Belgium, Germany, and Scandinavia, and has gained traction in the United States as parents seek internationally flavored classics.

Did you know? Mathias is the preferred spelling in Scandinavia, Germany, and Belgium, making it one of the few biblical names that feels equally at home in Oslo, Berlin, and Buenos Aires.
Overall data confidence 93%
Behind the Name: Mathias — Etymology, usage history, and cross-linguistic variantsActs 1:26, New International Bible — Biblical source for the apostle Matthias

Variations

MatthiasMattiasMatiasMaciejMatejMatteoMatthew

Nicknames

MattMattyTias

Famous Bearers

  • ★Mathias Corvinus (Matthias I of Hungary) (1443–1490)
    Renaissance king of Hungary renowned as a patron of the arts.
  • ★Mathias Rust (1968–)
    German amateur pilot who famously landed a small plane in Moscow's Red Square in 1987.

If you like Mathias…

Matthias— alternate spelling of the same biblical apostle name
Matias— Spanish and Portuguese cognate with identical meaning
Tobias— Hebrew biblical name of similar length and classical feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mathias mean?

Mathias means 'gift of God' or 'gift of Yahweh', derived from the Hebrew Mattityahu.

How do you pronounce Mathias?

Mathias is pronounced mah-TEE-us (/mɑˈtiː.əs/), with stress on the second syllable.

Is Mathias a boy or girl name?

Mathias is traditionally a boy's name, used across Europe and the Americas.

How popular is Mathias?

Mathias ranks in the top 200 in the United States and is a top-10 name in several Scandinavian and French-speaking countries.