Matthew Boy

Popularity: #32 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MATH-yoo //ˈmæθ.juː//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: Gift of God; English: Derived from the Hebrew name

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Matthew originates from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God." This name was later adapted into Greek as Matthaios and subsequently into Latin as Matthaeus. The transition into Old French as Mathieu occurred before the name was introduced into Middle English, where it became Matthew.

This linguistic evolution reflects the name's deep roots in religious tradition, particularly within Judeo-Christian contexts. Historically, Matthew is most notably associated with one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, traditionally believed to be the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament.

This gospel, likely composed in the first century CE, emphasizes Jesus' role as the Messiah and contains the Sermon on the Mount, a significant teaching in Christian doctrine. The figure of Matthew has been venerated in Christian tradition, and his feast day is celebrated on September 21st.

His role as an apostle and evangelist has contributed to the name's enduring significance in Christian communities. Culturally, the name Matthew has been associated with themes of divine favor and grace, reflecting its etymological roots.

It has been a popular name among various Christian saints, further solidifying its importance in religious contexts. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Matt or Matty, which have been used in different cultures.

Overall, Matthew's historical and cultural resonance is deeply intertwined with its biblical origins and the legacy of its most famous bearer.

Famous people named Matthew

In this section, you will find notable people named Matthew. 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 Matthew who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Matthew 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.

Matthew McConaughey is an actor best known for Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar, and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Matthew Perry is an actor best known for Friends, The Whole Nine Yards, and 17 Again.

Matthew Broderick is an actor best known for Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Producers, and WarGames.

Matthew Rhys is an actor best known for The Americans, Brothers & Sisters, and Perry Mason.

Matthew Fox is an actor best known for Lost, Party of Five, and Bone Tomahawk.

Matthew Goode is an actor best known for The Imitation Game, Watchmen, and Downton Abbey.

Matthew Lewis is an actor best known for the Harry Potter series, Me Before You, and The Rise.

Matthew Modine is an actor best known for Full Metal Jacket, Vision Quest, and Stranger Things.

Matthew Daddario is an actor best known for Shadowhunters, Delivery Man, and The Delivery Man.

Fictional characters named Matthew

The following list of fictional characters named Matthew 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.

Matthew Cuthbert is a fictional character from the novel Anne of Green Gables. He is the kind-hearted guardian of Anne Shirley who provides her with love and support throughout her childhood.

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

Sibling suggestions

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

MarkLukeJohnJamesAndrewSimon

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Matthew. 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.

MichaelNathanMasonMatthiasMaxwellMalcolmMiloMarcus

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Matthew has ranked as high as #4 nationally, which occurred in 1983, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Matthew 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 Matthew 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 Matthew.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 7,008 7,003 5
2024 7,115 7,107 8
2023 7,240 7,234 6
2022 7,086 7,077 9
2021 7,499 7,489 10
2020 8,149 8,142 7
2019 9,292 9,277 15
2018 10,019 10,009 10
2017 11,745 11,732 13
2016 12,677 12,665 12
2015 12,800 12,785 15
2014 12,959 12,944 15
2013 13,381 13,364 17
2012 14,014 13,993 21
2011 14,206 14,184 22
2010 14,163 14,148 15
2009 16,028 16,010 18
2008 17,627 17,604 23
2007 18,779 18,756 23
2006 20,361 20,339 22
2005 21,516 21,483 33
2004 22,987 22,882 105
2003 24,049 24,011 38
2002 25,188 25,154 34
2001 26,861 26,812 49
2000 28,624 28,580 44
1999 30,455 30,418 37
1998 31,201 31,146 55
1997 31,565 31,517 48
1996 32,145 32,077 68
1995 32,945 32,882 63
1994 33,728 33,654 74
1993 35,852 35,782 70
1992 37,826 37,733 93
1991 41,749 41,647 102
1990 44,951 44,826 125
1989 45,548 45,375 173
1988 46,129 45,876 253
1987 46,800 46,511 289
1986 47,210 46,929 281
1985 47,369 47,075 294
1984 50,060 49,767 293
1983 50,526 50,209 317
1982 46,318 46,045 273
1981 43,531 43,330 201
1980 38,027 37,834 193
1979 35,783 35,621 162
1978 34,438 34,282 156
1977 32,132 31,965 167
1976 30,091 29,951 140
1975 28,640 28,527 113
1974 27,302 27,194 108
1973 24,641 24,531 110
1972 23,047 22,928 119
1971 22,636 22,543 93
1970 20,249 20,185 64
1969 17,532 17,462 70
1968 15,899 15,823 76
1967 13,617 13,568 49
1966 10,842 10,803 39
1965 10,006 9,982 24
1964 9,001 8,981 20
1963 8,055 8,034 21
1962 7,289 7,279 10
1961 7,100 7,081 19
1960 6,936 6,925 11
1959 6,565 6,542 23
1958 6,391 6,377 14
1957 5,240 5,234 6
1956 4,374 4,366 8
1955 3,285 3,279 6
1954 2,688 2,688 0
1953 2,381 2,374 7
1952 2,032 2,032 0
1951 1,605 1,605 0
1950 1,299 1,299 0
1949 1,219 1,219 0
1948 1,059 1,054 5
1947 1,045 1,045 0
1946 897 892 5
1945 730 730 0
1944 765 765 0
1943 822 822 0
1942 842 842 0
1941 727 727 0
1940 669 664 5
1939 622 622 0
1938 608 608 0
1937 605 605 0
1936 608 608 0
1935 654 654 0
1934 615 610 5
1933 581 581 0
1932 702 702 0
1931 608 608 0
1930 665 657 8
1929 732 727 5
1928 784 784 0
1927 795 790 5
1926 783 777 6
1925 840 840 0
1924 850 850 0
1923 935 935 0
1922 982 982 0
1921 919 914 5
1920 967 967 0
1919 879 879 0
1918 963 963 0
1917 862 862 0
1916 825 825 0
1915 798 798 0
1914 613 613 0
1913 491 491 0
1912 380 380 0
1911 225 220 5
1910 197 197 0
1909 147 147 0
1908 152 152 0
1907 124 124 0
1906 136 136 0
1905 107 107 0
1904 97 97 0
1903 102 102 0
1902 104 104 0
1901 89 89 0
1900 130 130 0
1899 101 101 0
1898 133 133 0
1897 100 100 0
1896 123 123 0
1895 112 112 0
1894 124 124 0
1893 108 108 0
1892 132 132 0
1891 113 113 0
1890 86 86 0
1889 118 118 0
1888 114 114 0
1887 108 108 0
1886 112 112 0
1885 111 111 0
1884 117 117 0
1883 86 86 0
1882 109 109 0
1881 80 80 0
1880 113 113 0

Top States for Matthew (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 1,030
15%
TX 912
13%
FL 646
9%
NY 506
7%
NJ 280
4%
PA 239
3%
IL 225
3%
NC 197
3%
GA 190
3%
OH 184
3%
VA 181
3%
MA 148
2%
TN 147
2%
MI 134
2%
WA 129
2%
IN 128
2%
AZ 125
2%
MD 122
2%
MO 102
1%
CO 96
1%
SC 95
1%
CT 91
1%
LA 90
1%
KY 88
1%
AL 87
1%
MN 81
1%
OR 76
1%
WI 73
1%
UT 67
1%
OK 63
1%
NV 61
1%
AR 56
1%
KS 53
1%
IA 50
1%
NM 37
1%
ID 32
0%
MS 32
0%
DE 29
0%
NE 25
0%
RI 22
0%
WV 21
0%
NH 18
0%
ME 17
0%
SD 17
0%
HI 14
0%
AK 14
0%
DC 13
0%
WY 12
0%
MT 10
0%
VT 7
0%
ND 6
0%