How to say it
MATH · yoo
ˈmæθ.ju
Masculine
Matthew
Gift of God
What it means
From the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God.' Same root as Mateo, Matteo, and Mathias.
The Apostle Matthew was a tax collector before becoming one of the twelve disciples and writer of the first gospel. The English Matthew held the US top ten for boys for almost three decades (1972 to 2002). The Spanish Mateo and Italian Matteo are the same Hebrew name through different language paths, and both have been climbing in the US as Matthew has slowly declined. Currently US top thirty. Common short forms: Matt, Matty.
How to spell Matthew
The standard spelling is Matthew. Common variants include Mateo, Matteo, Mathieu, Mathias, Mattityahu, but Matthew is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #2 in 1995, currently #32 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Matt covers nearly every situation. Matty shows up in childhood.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Matthew Apostle and author of the first Gospel
- Matthew McConaughey Actor, Dallas Buyers Club and True Detective
- Matthew Perry Friends actor (Chandler), 1969-2023
Spelling variants
- Mateo
- Matteo
- Mathieu
- Mathias
- Mattityahu
Names with the same feeling
See Matthew from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Matthew mean?
- From the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God.' Same root as Mateo, Matteo, and Mathias.
- What does Matthew mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Matthew means "Gift of God." The Apostle Matthew was a tax collector before becoming one of the twelve disciples and writer of the first gospel. The English Matthew held the US top ten for boys for almost three decades (1972 to 2002). The Spanish Mateo and Italian Matteo are the same Hebrew name through different language paths, and both have been climbing in the US as Matthew has slowly declined. Currently US top thirty. Common short forms: Matt, Matty.
- How do you pronounce Matthew?
- Matthew is pronounced ˈmæθ.ju. Say it as MATH-yoo, with the stress on the "math" syllable.
- How do you spell Matthew?
- The standard spelling is Matthew. Common spelling variants include Mateo, Matteo, Mathieu, Mathias, Mattityahu.
- Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
- Matthew is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Matthew?
- Matthew ranked #32 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.