Matthew: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Matthew mean and stand for?

Meaning:

Hebrew: Gift of Yahweh; gift of God
Scandinavian : Gift from God

Gender: Male

Syllables: 2

Pronunciation: The name Matthew is pronounced mat-thew

The name Matthew is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Gift of Yahweh". It is derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu" and has been widely used in the English-speaking world since the Middle Ages. Matthew the Apostle, also known as Levi, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is credited with the authorship of the first Gospel in the New Testament. The name has historical significance, borne by several kings, saints, and notable figures throughout history, and remains a classic, enduring name choice.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English and Scottish: from the Middle English personal name Ma(t)thew, vernacular form of the Greek New Testament name Matthias, Matthaios, which is ultimately from the Hebrew personal name Matityahu "gift of God." This was taken into Latin as Mat(t)hias and Matthaeus respectively, the former being used for the twelfth apostle (who replaced Judas Iscariot) and the latter for the author of the first Gospel. In many European languages this distinction is reflected in different surname forms. The commonest vernacular forms of the personal name, including English Matthew, Old French Matheu, Spanish Mateo, Italian Matteo, Portuguese Mateus, Catalan and Occitan Mateu are generally derived from the form Matthaeus. The American surname Matthew has also absorbed European cognates from other languages, including Greek Mathias and Mattheos.

It is also found as a personal name among Christians in India, and in the U.S. it is used as a family name among families from Southern India.

Famous people with this first name

Matthew Broderick

Matthew Fox

Matthew McConaughey

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Matthew in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey - A charming lawyer who becomes the unexpected heir to Downton Abbey and its vast estate, navigating the complexities of early 20th century British society.
Matthew "Matt" Murdock from Daredevil - A blind lawyer by day and vigilante by night, using his heightened senses to fight crime in New York City's Hell's Kitchen.
Matthew Patel from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - The first of Ramona Flowers' seven evil exes whom Scott must defeat, known for his mystical powers and Bollywood-style musical numbers.
Matthew the Raven from The Sandman - Initially a human named Matthew Cable, he transforms into a raven and serves as a companion and emissary for Dream, the protagonist.
Matthew "Matt" Hooper from Jaws - A young marine biologist who assists in the hunt for a great white shark terrorizing a small island community.

Popularity of the Name Matthew

According to Social Security Administration data, Matthew has been one of the most popular boy names of the last century, remaining as the third most popular names for boys throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and up until 2002. It has been on a slight decline since then, dropping out of the top 10 in 2009.

However, it is the 47th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Matthew was at its peak popularity in October 2016.

Matthew has been in use since biblical times and first became popular with Matthew the Apostle. It soared in popularity throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early ‘00s. Although it has been declining in popularity over the last decade, it is still one of the most popular names. Its popularity may be due in part to celebs like Matthew Broderick, Matt Damon, Matt Dillon, and Matthew McConaughey.