Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Matthew

Matthew

♀ Girl

Pronounced MATH-yoo /ˈmæθ.juː/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew Mattityahu, 'gift of God' (or 'gift of Yahweh'), the name of an apostle and Gospel writer. Overwhelmingly a boys' name; used here for a girl, which we note.Medium

In 30 seconds: A biblical classic: Matthew means 'gift of God' (said 'MATH-yoo'). Strongly a boy's name — we note the lean.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew Mattityahu, 'gift of God' (or 'gift of Yahweh'), the name of an apostle and Gospel writer. Overwhelmingly a boys' name; used here for a girl, which we note.
U.S. rank (2025)#16434 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1983
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,580

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198319112025

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

Matthew derives from the Hebrew Mattityahu, 'gift of God,' carried by the apostle and evangelist. A perennial boys' classic across the English-speaking world, it appears only very rarely for girls — a strong lean we note (said 'MATH-yoo').

For girls it appears very rarely in the U.S., against heavy boys' use. Very rare for girls, classic, and biblical.

Did you know? Matthew comes from the Hebrew for 'gift of God,' the name of an apostle and Gospel writer. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; used here for a girl, we note the strong lean (said 'MATH-yoo').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Matthew — Hebrew 'gift of God'; cross-sex, strongly boy-leaning

Variations

MathewMatthewsMateo

Nicknames

MattMattie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Matthew…

Matthias— a like Hebrew 'gift of God' name
Micah— a like biblical crossover name
Nathaniel— a like biblical 'gift of God' name
Mateo— a like Matthew form in Spanish

Explore names like Matthew

By themehebrewbiblicalcross-sexunisex-lean-boy

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Matthew mean?

Matthew is from the Hebrew for 'gift of God,' the name of an apostle and Gospel writer.

How do you pronounce Matthew?

It's said MATH-yoo /ˈmæθ.juː/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Matthew a boy or girl name?

Matthew is overwhelmingly a boys' name; used here for a girl, we note the strong lean.

How popular is Matthew?

Matthew is very rare for girls and common for boys in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia