Matt Boy

Popularity: #909 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Mat /mæt/

Origin: Hebrew; Latin

Meaning: Hebrew: Gift of God; Latin: Warlike

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Matt is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning "gift of God." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, beginning with the Hebrew form, which was transliterated into Greek as Matthaios. The name was then adopted into Latin as Mattheus, before making its way into Old French as Mathieu, and finally into Middle English as Matthewe.

The shortened form, Matt, emerged as a diminutive in English-speaking contexts, particularly from the 20th century onward, although its roots trace back to the original Hebrew meaning. Historically, the name Matt is closely associated with Saint Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew.

This Gospel, one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament, was likely composed in the first century CE and has had a significant impact on Christian theology and liturgy. The name Matthew, and by extension its diminutive Matt, gained prominence in Christian contexts due to the saint's importance in early Christianity and the subsequent translations of the Bible, including the influential King James Version published in 1611.

Culturally, the name Matt has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing qualities of generosity and divine favor, reflective of its original meaning. The name has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, including various saints and scholars, which has contributed to its enduring legacy.

The diminutive Matt is often used informally, reflecting a sense of familiarity and warmth. Overall, the name Matt encapsulates a rich historical and cultural significance rooted in its biblical origins.

Famous people named Matt

In this section, you will find notable people named Matt. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Matt who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Matt who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Matt Damon is an actor best known for Good Will Hunting, The Martian, and the Bourne series.

Matt LeBlanc is an actor best known for Friends, Episodes, and Top Gear.

Matt Groening is a cartoonist best known for The Simpsons, Futurama, and Life in Hell.

Matt Smith is an actor best known for Doctor Who, The Crown, and Terminator Genisys.

Matt Bomer is an actor best known for White Collar, Magic Mike, and The Normal Heart.

Matt Hardy is a professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE and tag team success with his brother Jeff Hardy.

Matt Bellamy is a musician best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Muse.

Matt Parker is a mathematician and comedian best known for his work on Numberphile and his books on mathematics.

Matt Stone is a co-creator of South Park and is known for his work on the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon.

Matt Kuchar is a professional golfer best known for winning multiple PGA Tour events and representing the U.S. in the Ryder Cup.

Fictional characters named Matt

The following list of fictional characters named Matt is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Matt Murdock is a fictional character from the comic book series Daredevil. He is a blind lawyer by day and vigilante by night, fighting crime in Hell's Kitchen.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Matt, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LukeJakeSamBenTomMaxNick

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Matt. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MarkMackMiloMattieMasonMartyMitchMaddox

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Matt was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Matt has ranked as high as #543 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Matt has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Matt is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Matt was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Matt.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 29 29 0
2024 46 46 0
2023 46 46 0
2022 34 34 0
2021 37 37 0
2020 37 37 0
2019 39 39 0
2018 42 42 0
2017 72 72 0
2016 59 59 0
2015 57 57 0
2014 61 61 0
2013 47 47 0
2012 56 56 0
2011 44 44 0
2010 51 51 0
2009 60 60 0
2008 68 68 0
2007 62 62 0
2006 67 67 0
2005 40 40 0
2004 46 46 0
2003 55 55 0
2002 59 59 0
2001 53 53 0
2000 48 48 0
1999 69 69 0
1998 56 56 0
1997 56 56 0
1996 52 52 0
1995 50 50 0
1994 67 67 0
1993 60 60 0
1992 87 87 0
1991 83 83 0
1990 92 92 0
1989 105 105 0
1988 145 145 0
1987 135 135 0
1986 163 163 0
1985 167 167 0
1984 178 178 0
1983 226 226 0
1982 197 197 0
1981 198 198 0
1980 236 236 0
1979 255 255 0
1978 234 234 0
1977 293 293 0
1976 340 340 0
1975 408 408 0
1974 400 400 0
1973 502 502 0
1972 593 588 5
1971 805 805 0
1970 739 739 0
1969 799 799 0
1968 782 782 0
1967 707 707 0
1966 727 727 0
1965 800 800 0
1964 882 882 0
1963 906 906 0
1962 857 857 0
1961 888 888 0
1960 878 878 0
1959 975 975 0
1958 907 907 0
1957 569 569 0
1956 371 371 0
1955 196 196 0
1954 139 139 0
1953 108 108 0
1952 80 80 0
1951 92 92 0
1950 76 76 0
1949 77 77 0
1948 87 87 0
1947 78 78 0
1946 76 76 0
1945 60 60 0
1944 61 61 0
1943 63 63 0
1942 74 74 0
1941 55 55 0
1940 66 66 0
1939 53 53 0
1938 57 57 0
1937 49 49 0
1936 66 66 0
1935 59 59 0
1934 60 60 0
1933 55 55 0
1932 58 58 0
1931 59 59 0
1930 71 71 0
1929 65 65 0
1928 67 67 0
1927 73 73 0
1926 75 75 0
1925 87 87 0
1924 93 93 0
1923 89 89 0
1922 101 101 0
1921 104 104 0
1920 94 94 0
1919 101 101 0
1918 128 128 0
1917 114 114 0
1916 105 105 0
1915 106 106 0
1914 103 103 0
1913 60 60 0
1912 54 54 0
1911 40 40 0
1910 27 27 0
1909 32 32 0
1908 19 19 0
1907 22 22 0
1906 25 25 0
1905 24 24 0
1904 24 24 0
1903 27 27 0
1902 27 27 0
1901 21 21 0
1900 31 31 0
1899 21 21 0
1898 24 24 0
1897 20 20 0
1896 28 28 0
1895 26 26 0
1894 23 23 0
1893 30 30 0
1892 30 30 0
1891 27 27 0
1890 28 28 0
1889 33 33 0
1888 43 43 0
1887 34 34 0
1886 27 27 0
1885 41 41 0
1884 55 55 0
1883 39 39 0
1882 26 26 0
1881 29 29 0
1880 41 41 0

Top States for Matt (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 7
39%
TX 6
33%
FL 5
28%