Matthews Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MATH-ews //ˈmæθ.juz//
Origin: English; Hebrew
Meaning: English: son of Matthew; Hebrew: gift of God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Matthews is of English origin, derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of God." This name was translated into Greek as Matthaios and subsequently into Latin as Matthaeus. The name made its way into Old French as Mathieu before being adopted into Middle English as Matthews, which is a patronymic surname indicating "son of Matthew." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many biblical names were introduced into the English lexicon through the influence of the Church and the clergy.
Historically, the name Matthews is associated with several significant figures, most notably Saint Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament. The Gospel was likely composed in the late 1st century, and its prominence in Christian liturgy helped solidify the name's significance in Christian communities.
The name has also appeared in various historical texts and documents throughout the Middle Ages, often linked to ecclesiastical figures or landowners. Culturally, the name Matthews carries connotations of faith and divine favor, reflecting its etymological roots.
It has been used in various literary and artistic contexts, symbolizing the idea of divine gift or blessing. The name has also given rise to several diminutive forms, such as Matt, which have been used in various cultures.
The enduring nature of the name Matthews can be attributed to its strong biblical connections and the cultural resonance of its meaning, which has allowed it to persist through centuries as a recognizable and respected name.
Famous people named Matthews
In this section, you will find notable people named Matthews. 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 Matthews who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Matthews 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.
Matthews McConaughey is an actor best known for Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar, and True Detective.
Matthews H. McCulloh is a musician best known for his work with the band The Matthews Brothers.
Matthews M. K. is a filmmaker best known for his documentary work and short films.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Matthews, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Matthews. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Matthews was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Matthews has ranked as high as #1124 nationally, which occurred in 1988, and has been most popular in Louisiana, California, New York, South Carolina, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Matthews has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Matthews 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 Matthews was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Matthews (2002)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
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 Matthews.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 1999 | 23 |
| 1998 | 16 |
| 1997 | 15 |
| 1996 | 15 |
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1994 | 11 |
| 1993 | 19 |
| 1992 | 21 |
| 1991 | 14 |
| 1990 | 25 |
| 1989 | 24 |
| 1988 | 41 |
| 1987 | 28 |
| 1986 | 30 |
| 1985 | 21 |
| 1984 | 34 |
| 1983 | 28 |
| 1982 | 22 |
| 1981 | 23 |
| 1980 | 18 |
| 1979 | 14 |
| 1978 | 17 |
| 1977 | 18 |
| 1976 | 11 |
| 1975 | 19 |
| 1974 | 10 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1972 | 15 |
| 1971 | 13 |
| 1970 | 17 |
| 1969 | 10 |
| 1968 | 18 |
| 1967 | 17 |
| 1966 | 11 |
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1964 | 6 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 12 |
| 1961 | 10 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 12 |
| 1958 | 11 |
| 1957 | 12 |
| 1956 | 11 |
| 1955 | 9 |
| 1954 | 9 |
| 1953 | 17 |
| 1952 | 11 |
| 1951 | 14 |
| 1950 | 15 |
| 1949 | 7 |
| 1948 | 14 |
| 1947 | 14 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1945 | 13 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 10 |
| 1942 | 10 |
| 1941 | 14 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1938 | 8 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 8 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 9 |
| 1933 | 12 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1931 | 8 |
| 1930 | 10 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 11 |
| 1926 | 11 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 15 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1922 | 11 |
| 1921 | 12 |
| 1920 | 19 |
| 1919 | 16 |
| 1918 | 13 |
| 1917 | 13 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1914 | 9 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 6 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1906 | 5 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1882 | 5 |