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Matt Boy

Popularity: #878 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationMat / mæt

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.

Trend Summary

Matt has seen consistent popularity in the United States, particularly during the late 20th century.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Mat
  • Matty

International Variants

  • Matteo (Italian)
  • Matías (Spanish)
  • Matthias (German)

Famous people named Matt

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

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

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Matt was first seen in the United States in 1880. Matt has ranked as high as #523 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. In the past 5 years the name Matt has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Matt (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 7
39%
TX 6
33%
FL 5
28%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188041
188129
188226
188339
188455
188541
188627
188734
188843
188933
189028
189127
189230
189330
189423
189526
189628
189720
189824
189921
190031
190121
190227
190327
190424
190524
190625
190722
190819
190932
191027
191140
191254
191360
1914103
1915106
1916105
1917114
1918128
1919101
192094
1921104
1922101
192389
192493
192587
192675
192773
192867
192965
193071
193159
193258
193355
193460
193559
193666
193749
193857
193953
194066
194155
194274
194363
194461
194560
194676
194778
194887
194977
195076
195192
195280
1953108
1954139
1955196
1956371
1957569
1958907
1959975
1960878
1961888
1962857
1963906
1964882
1965800
1966727
1967707
1968782
1969799
1970739
1971805
1972588
1973502
1974400
1975409
1976340
1977293
1978234
1979255
1980237
1981198
1982197
1983226
1984178
1985167
1986163
1987135
1988145
1989105
199092
199183
199287
199360
199467
199550
199653
199756
199856
199969
200048
200153
200259
200355
200446
200540
200667
200762
200868
200960
201051
201144
201256
201347
201461
201557
201659
201772
201842
201939
202037
202137
202234
202346
202446