Matthew - Boy's Name Meaning, Origin, And Popularity - BabyCenter

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Popular Baby NamesBaby Name ListsBaby Name SearchMy Saved Names

1. Baby Names

Matthew/MATH-yoo/

At a glance

Origin: HebrewUS Popularity: #47Meaning: Gift of GodSave to listSee saved namesFact-checked by Marcella GatesWritten by Tahirah BlandingUpdated on Feb 2, 2026In this article

• Matthew name meaning and origin
• Matthew name popularity
• Popularity over time
• Matthew in pop culture
• Famous people named Matthew
• Names similar to Matthew
• Baby name lists including Matthew

Matthew name meaning and origin

Matthew (also spelled Mathew with one t) is one of the many classic boy names that have stood the test of time. The name has been around for centuries, originating from the Hebrew word "Mattityahu," which means "gift of God."

Matthew goes all the way back to Biblical times in the first century. According to the New Testament of the Bible, Matthew, also known as Matthew the Apostle and Saint Matthew, was one of Jesus' twelve chosen apostles. Many believe Matthew was the nickname given to the apostle by Jesus himself (Matthew was also known as Levi).

These days Matthew is no longer a nickname, but a first name given to millions of boys around the world. More than 25 linguistic variations of Matthew exist. They include:

• Mateo (Spanish)
• Matheus (Portuguese)
• Matthias (various languages)
• Matteo (Italian)
• Matthaious (Greek)
• Matthäus (German)
• Matthieu (French)
• Matvei/Matvey (Russian)

Matthew is traditionally a masculine name, but that hasn't stopped parents from naming their daughters Matthew. In the United States between 1972 and 1989, Matthew continually held a spot in the top 1,000 girl's names. If you like Matthew but prefer something more feminine, consider Mattea, from the Italian name Matteo. Or, the gender-neutral names Matty or Mattie can easily work for a boy or girl.

Though still widespread, Matthew isn 't as popular as it once was in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Matthew peaked in 1995 and 1996, when it was the second-most-popular name for boys in the United States. More recently, it's fallen to spot 30 for boys on the SSA list.

Among BabyCenter parents, Matthew is in the top 50 baby boy names. (BabyCenter 's ranking is based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their baby's name with us.)

A true classic, Matthew has endured as a baby name since the Christian apostle and saint walked the earth. With a beautiful meaning and easy nicknames, it 's a safe but solid choice for modern parents, too.

girlboy

Popularity over time

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Matthew in pop culture

Matt Jensen Character from the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why Matthew McGuire Younger brother of the title character in the Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire Matt Farrell Character from the action thriller Live Free or Die Hard, played by actor Justin Long Matt Scudder Character played by Liam Neeson in the film A Walk Among the Tombstones Advertisement | page continues below

Famous people named Matthew

Matthew the Apostle One of Jesus ' twelve apostles, also known as Saint Matthew Matthew Anderson American politician Matt Barnes Professional NBA basketball player Matt Damon Actor, star of The Bourne Identity film series Matthew of Alexandria (I-IV) Several popes who led the Coptic Orthodox Church Matt LeBlanc Actor best known for his role as Joey on the award-winning sitcom Friends Matthew McConaughey Award-winning actor who has appeared in more than a dozen films, most notably Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf of Wall Street, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Matthew Perry Actor, Matt LeBlanc's name twin and Friends co-star Matt James Lead from The Bachelor 's season 25 Matt Groening Creator of the animated television show The Simpsons

Names similar to Matthew

Like Matthew? What about:

NoahAndrewJamesJacobLiamEthanMichaelBenjaminJoshuaLukeAlexanderElijah

Common sibling names

Sisters

EmilySamanthaMadison

Brothers

MichaelAndrewChristopherNathanJacobNicholasRyanJoshuaZachary

Baby name lists including Matthew

• 251 biblical baby names

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• Most popular baby names through history

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