Matthew
Matthew is a Christian boy name of Hebrew, via Greek and Latin origin, meaning “Gift of God”.
| Meaning | Gift of God |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Greek and Latin |
| Pronunciation | MATH-yoo |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Matthew
Matthew goes back to the Hebrew Mattityahu, combining mattat, 'gift', with Yah, a short form of God's name. It reached English through the Greek Matthaios and Latin Matthaeus. Matthew the Apostle, a tax collector who followed Jesus, is traditionally credited with the first Gospel of the New Testament, and that link made the name common across Christian Europe. In English-speaking countries it was especially popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
Is Matthew a Christian name?
Matthew is a biblical name: Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and is honoured as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, with a feast day on 21 September in the Western church.
How popular is Matthew?
A long-established classic across the English-speaking world, still widely used though less than at its late-twentieth-century peak.
Gifts with the name Matthew
- Matthew name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Matthew baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a small commission from these links, at no extra cost to you.
Spellings and variants of Matthew
Names similar to Matthew
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew means 'Gift of God'. It is of Hebrew, via Greek and Latin origin.
Is Matthew a Christian name?
Matthew is a biblical name: Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and is honoured as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, with a feast day on 21 September in the Western church.
How do you pronounce Matthew?
Matthew is pronounced MATH-yoo.
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is usually a boy name.