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Matthias

♂ Boy

Pronounced mah-THY-us /məˈθaɪ.əs/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' (gift of God), transmitted through Greek as Matthias — the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.High

In 30 seconds: Matthias is the classic biblical spelling of the apostle chosen to replace Judas — meaning 'gift of God'. Dignified, classical, and deeply Christian, it is related to Matthew but with greater apostolic distinction.
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Origin HighHebrew, Latin, Greek
MeaningFrom the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh' (gift of God), transmitted through Greek as Matthias — the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.
U.S. rank (2025)#372 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births854 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,670

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

Matthias derives from the Hebrew Mattityahu, a compound of mattan (gift) and Yah (Yahweh) — meaning 'gift of God'. In Acts 1:26, Matthias was selected by lot to fill the vacancy among the Twelve Apostles left by Judas Iscariot. The Greek form Matthias entered Latin and became the standard ecclesiastical spelling, distinct from the vernacular Matthew.

Matthias has been used across Catholic and Protestant Europe for centuries, particularly in German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, and Hungary, where several kings bore the name. It differs from the variant Mathias (single t) and from Matthew (the vernacular English form). In the United States, Matthias has been growing since the 2000s as parents seek the fuller, more distinguished biblical form, and it now ranks in the top 200 boys' names.

Did you know? Matthias was chosen as an apostle in Acts 1:23-26 by casting lots — making him the only apostle selected by drawing straws, a method used to discern divine will in the ancient world. No other apostle was chosen this way.
Overall data confidence 95%
Acts 1:23-26, New Testament — Biblical source for Matthias as the apostle chosen to replace JudasBehind the Name: Matthias — Etymology and distinction from Matthew and Mathias

Variations

MathiasMatthewMattias

Nicknames

MattMattyThias

Famous Bearers

  • ★Matthias (biblical apostle) (c. 1st century CE)
    The apostle chosen by lot in Acts 1:26 to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles.

If you like Matthias…

Mathias— the single-t variant spelling of the same apostle name with identical meaning
Tobias— three-syllable Hebrew biblical name with -ias ending and similar classical apostolic weight
Nathaniel— four-syllable Hebrew biblical name with the same gift-of-God theme and classical gravitas

Frequently Asked

What does the name Matthias mean?

Matthias means 'gift of God', from Hebrew Mattityahu (mattan = gift, Yah = God) — the name of the apostle chosen to replace Judas.

How do you pronounce Matthias?

Matthias is pronounced mah-THY-us (/məˈθaɪ.əs/), three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Matthias a boy or girl name?

Matthias is a masculine biblical name.

How popular is Matthias?

Matthias has entered the US top 200 boys' names and is growing as parents seek the full classical form over the common Matthew.