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Matthew

♂ Boy

Pronounced MATH-yoo /ˈmæθ.juː/High

Meaning: Gift of God; gift of YahwehHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew 'gift of God,' Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and the author of the first Gospel. A consistent top-20 name in the U.S. for over 50 years.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningGift of God; gift of Yahweh
Peak year1983
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,590,440

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198318802017

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

History & Origin

Matthew comes from the Hebrew Mattityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), the same root as Mateo and Matthias, meaning 'gift of Yahweh.' The apostle Matthew was a tax collector who became one of the Twelve, traditionally credited with writing the first Gospel of the New Testament.

Matthew was used in medieval Europe but became particularly common in the English-speaking world from the 16th century onward. In the United States it climbed into the top 5 during the 1960s–1980s and has remained in the top 20 consistently since, a perennial favorite across generations.

Did you know? Matthew the Apostle was a tax collector (publican) when Jesus called him to follow — a surprising choice, as tax collectors were despised in first-century Judaea for working with the Roman occupiers. The Gospel of Matthew is the only one that records the Sermon on the Mount in full.

Variations

MatthiasMateoMatteoMathew

Nicknames

MattMattieMat

Famous Bearers

  • ★Matthew (Apostle) (1st century AD)
    One of the twelve apostles, traditional author of the first Gospel.
  • ★Matthew McConaughey (1969–)
    American actor, Academy Award winner for Dallas Buyers Club.

If you like Matthew…

Michael— shares the mid-20th century top-5 dominance in the U.S.
Daniel— fellow apostle-era Hebrew name with the same sustained top-20 presence
James— equally eternal biblical classic
Joseph— another patriarchal Hebrew name with the same long history
Samuel— shares the warm Old Testament appeal and nickname ease

Frequently Asked

What does the name Matthew mean?

Matthew comes from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God' or 'gift of Yahweh,' borne by the apostle who became the traditional author of the first Gospel.

How do you pronounce Matthew?

Matthew is said MATH-yoo /ˈmæθ.juː/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Matthew a boy or girl name?

Matthew is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalent is Mathea or Mattea.

How popular is Matthew?

Matthew has ranked in the U.S. top 20 boys' names for over five consecutive decades, and was in the top five from the 1960s through the 1990s.