Matthew Name Meaning

Updated on July 12, 2021

Fact checked by Cara Lustik

Cute Baby Boy — Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images

The name Matthew stems originally from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh," or "gift of God." Matthew itself simply means "gift," though there are those who say it still means "gift of God," or even "gift from God."

Whatever the translation, it is a name with strong biblical origins, as Matthew was one of Jesus's apostles and one of the writers of the New Testament.

Origin: Matthew is a name inspired by the Greek name Matthaios, which is itself a variation of the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning “gift of Yahweh.”

Gender: Matthew is usually a boy name.

Pronunciation: MATH-yoo (English)

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Matthew?

Matthew is one of those names that seems as though it will never diminish in popularity. In fact, it’s held a spot in the top 50 baby names in the United States for nearly six decades now. The name even had a streak of dominating the top 10 baby names from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

In 2020, the name Matthew came in as the 30th most popular baby boy name in the United States.

While Matthew is most often used as a boy’s name, and while data regarding name popularity is typically divided by gender, it’s important to remember that gender does not have to be a deciding factor in naming your baby.

Name Variations

Here are some other variations of the name Matthew:

Mathew
Matthias
Mattew

Similar Names

Other consistently popular boy’s names include:

Christopher
Daniel
James
John
Michael
William

Other boy’s names that start with M include:

Maddox
Malachi
Mark
Matteo
Max
Miles

Common Nicknames

Love the name Matthew but also want a good nickname for your newborn? Here are some ideas:

Matt: A very common nickname that paints the picture of an active and masculine man.
Matty: For a nickname with a little more fun, Matty is a great nickname for your young Matthew.
Mato: Another fun nickname that could be used for both kids and adults.

Suggested Sibling Names

Names that go well with Matthew are:

Emma
James
Maria
Mary
Michael
Mitch
Oliva
Robert

Famous People Named Matthew

There have been a plethora of famous Matthews, some of whom include:

Matthew Bellamy, musician
Matthew Broderick, actor
Matt Damon, actor
Matt Dillon, actor
Matthew Holliday, professional baseball player
Matthew Lillard, actor
Matthew Perry, actor
Matthew McConaughey, actor

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

1 Source

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Social Security Administration. Popularity of Name.

By Leah Campbell
Leah Campbell is a full-time parenting and health writer and has written extensively on the topics of infertility, adoption, and parenting. She is a single mom by choice and author of the book "Single Infertile Female."

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