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Home › Baby Names Directory › Matt

Matt

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAT /ˈmæt/Medium

Meaning: Gift of YahwehMedium

In 30 seconds: Matt is an English short form meaning 'gift of Yahweh', from Matthew.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningGift of Yahweh
U.S. rank (2024)#2810 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births46 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1959
Total births (all-time)≈ 23,861

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195918802024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Matt began as a clipped form of Matthew, which carries the Hebrew-rooted sense 'gift of Yahweh'. Long since used as a standalone name, it keeps that 'gift of God' meaning in a brisk one-syllable package.

It connects to a wider spread of forms, from the close English Mat, Mattie and Matty to the Armenian Matevos and Matia. Footballer Matt Ryan (born 1985) and early film actor Matt Moore (1888 to 1960) are among its bearers.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Matt is 'gift of Yahweh ', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Matt — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MatMattieMattyMatevosMatia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Matt Ryan (1985–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Matt Moore (1888–1960)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Matt…

Matthew— the full English name Matt is shortened from, sharing the 'gift of Yahweh' meaning
Mattie— a listed pet form of the same name with the same root
Truitt— lands in the same popularity range
Merritt— shares the -tt ending
Scott— echoes that soft -tt sound

Explore names like Matt

By themeenglish
By meaningGod / DivineGift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Matt mean?

Matt is usually explained as meaning 'gift of Yahweh ' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Matt?

It's commonly said MAT /ˈmæt/.

Is Matt a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Matt is used as a boy name.

How popular is Matt?

In 2024, Matt ranked #2810 in the U.S. for boys, with 46 births recorded.

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