Matthew
Matthew: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmæθjuː/ · /-(j)ɪu̯/
Meaning and origin of Matthew
- A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.
Etymology
From earlier Matheu, from Old French Mathieu, from Latin Matthaeus, from Ancient Greek Ματθαῖος (Matthaîos), from Aramaic מַתַּי (mattay). Compare Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ (mattiṯyāhū, literally “gift of the Lord”). Doublet of Mattathias.
How popular is Matthew?
Since 1880, 5,580 girls and 1,654,075 boys in the U.S. have been named Matthew (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #570 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #2 in 1995. In 2025 it ranked #32 for boys, with 7,008 babies given the name.
Names similar to Matthew
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Matthew
Sister and brother names that share Matthew's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Matthew FAQ
What does the name Matthew mean?
A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. From earlier Matheu, from Old French Mathieu, from Latin Matthaeus, from Ancient Greek Ματθαῖος (Matthaîos), from Aramaic מַתַּי (mattay). Compare Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ (mattiṯyāhū, literally “gift of the Lord”). Doublet of Mattathias.
What is the origin of the name Matthew?
Matthew is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Matthew?
Since 1880, 5,580 girls and 1,654,075 boys in the U.S. have been named Matthew (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #570 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #2 in 1995. In 2025 it ranked #32 for boys, with 7,008 babies given the name.
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 5,580 girls and 1,654,075 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.