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Matteo

♂ Boy

Pronounced mah-TAY-oh /mɑːˈteɪ.oʊ/High

Meaning: Gift of God — Italian form of Matthew, from Hebrew <em>Mattityahu</em>High

In 30 seconds: The irresistibly Italian form of Matthew, meaning 'gift of God' from the Hebrew. Softer and more lyrical than its English counterpart, Matteo has become one of the most fashionable boys' names in the U.S. and Europe.
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Origin HighItalian, Hebrew
MeaningGift of God — Italian form of Matthew, from Hebrew <em>Mattityahu</em>
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,006

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619112017

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

History & Origin

Matteo is the Italian form of Matthew, from the Late Latin Matthaeus, from Greek Matthaios, ultimately from Hebrew Mattityahu — a compound of mattan (gift) and Yah (a form of the divine name), meaning 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God.'

Matteo has been a staple Italian name for centuries. In the U.S., it entered birth records in meaningful numbers from the 1990s and surged dramatically in the 2010s as Italian-origin names became fashionable. It now ranks in the U.S. top 50 boys' names, loved for its mellifluous sound and international flair.

Did you know? Saint Matthew (Matteo in Italian) was the tax collector turned apostle who wrote the first Gospel. In Italian art, Caravaggio's masterpieces depicting Saint Matthew's calling and martyrdom hang in Rome's San Luigi dei Francesi church.

Variations

MatthewMateoMatthieuMathieu

Nicknames

MattTeoMatty

Famous Bearers

  • ★Saint Matthew (1st century)
    Apostle of Jesus and traditional author of the Gospel of Matthew.

If you like Matteo…

Mateo— Spanish cognate of the exact same name — equally popular
Emiliano— grand Italian/Spanish classic with the same romantic multi-syllable flow
Lorenzo— another beloved Italian name with the same sun-drenched elegance
Luca— popular Italian boys' name with the same soft, -a ending musicality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Matteo mean?

Matteo is the Italian form of Matthew, from the Hebrew <em>Mattityahu</em> meaning 'gift of God.'

How do you pronounce Matteo?

Matteo is pronounced mah-TAY-oh /mɑːˈteɪ.oʊ/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Matteo a boy or girl name?

Matteo is a masculine name. The feminine form is Mattea.

How popular is Matteo?

Matteo has surged into the U.S. top 50 boys' names in the 2010s–2020s as Italian names have become highly fashionable.