The first name Matthew
A boy’s name from Hebrew meaning “gift of the lord”.
Pronounced /ˈmæθjuː/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Matthew means “gift of the lord” in Hebrew.
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.
More names that mean gift, god.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 353 boys were named Matthew, making it the 153rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1997, with 7,443 births (#6).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Matthew with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Matthew at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 7,003 boys born in the United States were named Matthew, the 32nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1983, when 50,209 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Matthew in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Matthew
405 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Matthew McConaugheyAmerican actor (born 1969)
- Matthew PerryAmerican-Canadian actor (1969–2023)
- Matthew ArnoldBritish poet and cultural critic (1822–1888)
- Matthew BroderickAmerican actor (born 1962)
- Matthew FoxAmerican actor (born 1966)
- Matthew LillardAmerican actor (born 1970)
- Matthew FlindersEnglish navigator and cartographer (1774-1814)
- Matthew SpiranovicAustralian association football player, born 1988
- Matthew UpsonEnglish association football player (born 1979)
- Matthew Gray GublerAmerican actor, filmmaker and model (born 1980)
- Matthew BingleyAustralian association football player, born 1971
- Matthew Gregory LewisEnglish novelist and dramatist (1775–1818)
More Hebrew boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Matthew mean?
- Matthew means “gift of the lord” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Matthew?
- 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 the name Matthew?
- In 2025, 353 boys born in England and Wales were named Matthew, ranking 153rd. Its peak was 1997, with 7,443 births.
- What are nicknames for Matthew?
- Common nicknames for Matthew include Mat, Matt, Matty.
- Is Matthew a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,659,655 US babies named Matthew since 1880 were boys.
- When was Matthew most popular?
- 1983 in the United States, when 50,209 babies were named Matthew, its highest rank at 3rd.
- How do you pronounce Matthew?
- Matthew is /ˈmæθjuː/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Matthew?
- Mathew.
- Is Matthew also a surname?
- Yes. Matthew is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.