Matthew
Matthew is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “gift of God.” It ranked #32 in the United States in 2025. From Hebrew 'Mattityahu,' meaning 'gift of Yahweh.'
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how do you pronounce Matthew?
MATH-yoo
where does the name Matthew come from?
From the Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Mattityahu), combining a word for gift with Yah, the shortened divine name — gift of Yahweh. Greek compressed it to Matthaios and Latin to Matthaeus, and English trimmed it further still.
Saint Matthew the Apostle, a former tax collector, is one of the four evangelists and author of the first Gospel, making this name perennially popular in Christian communities.
how popular is this name?
Matthew has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #2 in 1995, and ranked #32 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #32 |
| 2024 | #33 |
| 2023 | #32 |
| 2022 | #39 |
| 2021 | #36 |
| 2020 | #30 |
| 2019 | #23 |
| 2018 | #20 |
| 2017 | #16 |
| 2016 | #15 |
| 2010 | #16 |
| 2000 | #3 |
| 1995 | #2 |
| 1990 | #3 |
| 1980 | #6 |
| 1970 | #24 |
| 1960 | #61 |
| 1950 | #174 |
| 1940 | #198 |
| 1930 | #204 |
| 1920 | #151 |
| 1910 | #158 |
| 1900 | #161 |
| 1890 | #164 |
| 1880 | #116 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Matthew fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Matthew
Matthew was a tax collector for Rome, among the most despised occupations in first-century Judea, before being called as an apostle — a detail the gospel attributed to him does not soften. His symbol in Christian art is the winged man, one of the four living creatures. The name was ordinary in medieval England and returned to the top ten across the English-speaking world in the 1970s.
who are famous people named Matthew?
- Matthew McConaughey (actor)
- Saint Matthew (Apostle)
- Matthew Perry (actor)
- Matthew Broderick (actor)
what are the nicknames and variants of Matthew?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Matthew?
what names go well with Matthew?
Sibling names that share Matthew's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Matthew
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew means “gift of God”.
What is the origin of the name Matthew?
Matthew comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Mateo, Matteo, Mathieu and Matthias.
How popular is the name Matthew?
Matthew ranked #32 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1995, at #2, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Matthew?
Matthew is pronounced MATH-yoo, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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