Matthew
Meaninggift of God · Hebrew
- US rank
- #32
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2 in 1996
7,003 babies were named Matthew in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Matthew you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Matthew
Matthew McConaughey
American actor (born 1969)
Choose Matthew and your child shares a first name with Matthew McConaughey, an American actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Matthew, like who?” Matthew McConaughey's Wikipedia article is available in 93 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Matthew McConaughey on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 244 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Matthew, 7,003 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Matthew.
- HistoryMatthew has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Matthews, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1996, when it ranked #2. Today it's #32, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowMatthew was 3.5× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 69 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 244.
- Where it's lovedMatthew is most popular in Florida, where it ranks #10, followed by New York (#17) and New Jersey (#20). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Matthew means “gift of God”. Our records link it to English and Hebrew roots.
About the name Matthew
Matthew is a boy name of English and Hebrew origin meaning “gift of God”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-hew”. US birth records list Matthew for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1996, when it ranked #2 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #32, with 7,003 babies.
Origin:English namesHebrew names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 974 | 1,027 boys |
| 1890s | 991 | 1,009 boys |
| 1900s | 872 | 1,147 boys |
| 1910s | 941 | 1,063 boys |
| 1920s | 778 | 1,285 boys |
| 1930s | 592 | 1,688 boys |
| 1940s | 586 | 1,706 boys |
| 1950s | 1,730 | 578 boys |
| 1960s | 5,664 | 177 boys |
| 1970s | 16,917 | 59 boys |
| 1980s | 24,887 | 40 boys |
| 1990s | 18,005 | 56 boys |
| 2000s | 11,138 | 90 boys |
| 2010s | 6,639 | 151 boys |
| 2020s | 4,251 | 235 boys |
Other spellings of Matthew
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Matthew
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew means “gift of God” in Hebrew.
What is the origin of the name Matthew?
Matthew has English, Hebrew roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Matthew?
Matthew ranked #32 for US boys in 2025, given to 7,003 babies. Its best year was 1996 (#2).