Matthew: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced MATH-yoo · 2 syllables
Matthew means “gift of God”, from Hebrew.
From earlier Matheu, from Old French Mathieu, from Latin Matthaeus, from Ancient Greek (Matthaios), from Aramaic (mattay). Compare Hebrew (mattityahu, literally “gift of the Lord”). Doublet of Mattathias.
- Meaning
- gift of God
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- MATH-yoo
- US rank (2025)
- #32
- US babies a year
- about 7,455 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1980
- Style
- Classic, Biblical, Literary
- Nicknames
- Matt
How popular is Matthew?
Matthew was the #32 name in the US in 2025, given to 7,008 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 47% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1980.
Most popular in Florida (#10).
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #32 |
| England & Wales | #114 |
| Scotland | #55 |
| Northern Ireland | #25 |
| Ireland | #58 |
| France | #509 |
| Canada | #65 |
| Australia | #200 |
How old are people named Matthew?
Half of US adults named Matthew are older than 40; most are between 21 and 61. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Matthew
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Matthew have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Matthew
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- The most popular boy names in the US
- Classic boy names
- Literary boy names
- Biblical boy names
- Hebrew boy names
Questions about Matthew
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew means “gift of God”. It comes from Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Matthew?
Matthew is pronounced MATH-yoo.
How popular is the name Matthew?
Matthew was the #32 name in the US in 2025, given to 7,008 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 47% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1980.
How old are people named Matthew?
Half of US adults named Matthew are older than 40. Most are between 21 and 61.