Fun Facts About the Name Matthew
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,653,993 boys named Matthew from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Matthew stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 70 consecutive years, from 1956 through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Matthew's rank fell 30 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 1 million babies named Matthew: U.S. records list 1,659,573 babies given the name Matthew from 1880 through 2025. Even 5,580 girls received the name Matthew - about 1 girl for every 296 boys.
What Does the Name Matthew Mean?
Matthew means "gift of Yahweh," and it comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ). That Hebrew name is built from mattan, "gift," plus Yah, a shortened form of the divine name YHWH. Because Yah is the covenant name of God, the literal sense is usually given in English as "gift of God" or "gift of the Lord."
The name reached English through Greek Matthaios (Μαθθαῖος) and Latin Matthaeus, and the English spelling follows that Greek and Latin line rather than the Hebrew directly. A closely related Hebrew name, Mattityahu in its longer Greek form Mattathias, and the New Testament name Matthias, share the same root vocabulary, but they are separate names in their own traditions and not simply alternative spellings of Matthew.
Matthew Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Mattityahu is attested in the Hebrew Bible, where it appears in shortened form (Mattithiah) as the name of Levites in the books of Chronicles. It was therefore in use as a personal name in ancient Israel well before the Christian era. Greek-speaking Jews rendered it as Mattathias, the form used for the Hasmonean priest Mattathias, father of Judas Maccabeus, in the books of Maccabees.
In the New Testament the Greek form Matthaios is the name of the tax collector whom Jesus calls as one of the twelve apostles. Early Christian tradition identified this apostle with the author of the Gospel of Matthew, and devotion to Saint Matthew helped carry the Latin form Matthaeus through the western Church.
English inherited the name from Latin Matthaeus, reinforced by the Old French Mathieu that the Normans brought with them. It was in regular use in medieval England, and a one-t spelling, Mathew, developed alongside Matthew and later became common as a surname. The name also took distinct forms in other European languages, among them Italian Matteo, Spanish Mateo, German Matthäus, and Russian Matvey.
How Popular is the Name Matthew?
Matthew remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1956 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 1983, and people born that year turn 43 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,434 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #11,736 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #14,541 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #10,916 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #10,049 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #12,998 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #7,585 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #10,300 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #8,609 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #9,233 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,864 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #7,938 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #7,271 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #6,259 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2011 | #6,072 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #8,157 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #7,242 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #6,066 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #6,021 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #6,057 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #4,236 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2004 | #1,816 | 105 | 0.0057% |
| 2003 | #3,706 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2002 | #3,857 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #2,948 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 2000 | #3,148 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 1999 | #3,415 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1998 | #2,519 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 1997 | #2,645 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1996 | #2,051 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 1995 | #2,144 | 63 | 0.0036% |
| 1994 | #1,922 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 1993 | #2,002 | 70 | 0.0039% |
| 1992 | #1,638 | 93 | 0.0050% |
| 1991 | #1,531 | 102 | 0.0054% |
| 1990 | #1,305 | 125 | 0.0066% |
| 1989 | #1,000 | 173 | 0.0094% |
| 1988 | #743 | 253 | 0.0142% |
| 1987 | #651 | 289 | 0.0166% |
| 1986 | #660 | 281 | 0.0164% |
| 1985 | #636 | 294 | 0.0171% |
| 1984 | #611 | 293 | 0.0174% |
| 1983 | #570 | 317 | 0.0190% |
| 1982 | #655 | 273 | 0.0161% |
| 1981 | #802 | 201 | 0.0120% |
| 1980 | #819 | 193 | 0.0116% |
| 1979 | #917 | 162 | 0.0101% |
| 1978 | #912 | 156 | 0.0102% |
| 1977 | #869 | 167 | 0.0109% |
| 1976 | #929 | 140 | 0.0096% |
| 1975 | #1,051 | 113 | 0.0078% |
| 1974 | #1,088 | 108 | 0.0074% |
| 1973 | #1,056 | 110 | 0.0075% |
| 1972 | #999 | 119 | 0.0078% |
| 1971 | #1,220 | 93 | 0.0056% |
| 1970 | #1,538 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1969 | #1,380 | 70 | 0.0041% |
| 1968 | #1,263 | 76 | 0.0046% |
| 1967 | #1,633 | 49 | 0.0030% |
| 1966 | #1,848 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1965 | #2,512 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1964 | #2,882 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1963 | #2,752 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #4,440 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #3,031 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #3,847 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #2,439 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1958 | #3,328 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #5,849 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #4,710 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #5,624 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,881 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #5,747 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #5,433 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1940 | #4,816 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1934 | #4,749 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,549 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #5,042 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1927 | #5,345 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1926 | #4,663 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #5,627 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1911 | #2,724 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #32 | 7,003 | 0.4100% |
| 2024 | #33 | 7,078 | 0.4126% |
| 2023 | #32 | 7,221 | 0.4226% |
| 2022 | #39 | 7,070 | 0.4053% |
| 2021 | #36 | 7,479 | 0.4278% |
| 2020 | #30 | 8,137 | 0.4717% |
| 2019 | #23 | 9,270 | 0.5169% |
| 2018 | #20 | 10,004 | 0.5510% |
| 2017 | #16 | 11,730 | 0.6339% |
| 2016 | #15 | 12,665 | 0.6676% |
| 2015 | #15 | 12,783 | 0.6671% |
| 2014 | #16 | 12,940 | 0.6738% |
| 2013 | #15 | 13,360 | 0.7064% |
| 2012 | #12 | 13,991 | 0.7377% |
| 2011 | #12 | 14,179 | 0.7467% |
| 2010 | #16 | 14,145 | 0.7373% |
| 2009 | #13 | 16,007 | 0.8071% |
| 2008 | #10 | 17,602 | 0.8629% |
| 2007 | #9 | 18,753 | 0.9037% |
| 2006 | #5 | 20,339 | 0.9897% |
| 2005 | #4 | 21,481 | 1.0756% |
| 2004 | #4 | 22,882 | 1.1529% |
| 2003 | #4 | 24,010 | 1.2155% |
| 2002 | #4 | 25,154 | 1.2956% |
| 2001 | #3 | 26,812 | 1.3800% |
| 2000 | #3 | 28,580 | 1.4552% |
| 1999 | #3 | 30,418 | 1.5842% |
| 1998 | #3 | 31,145 | 1.6295% |
| 1997 | #3 | 31,518 | 1.6720% |
| 1996 | #2 | 32,077 | 1.6934% |
| 1995 | #2 | 32,879 | 1.7272% |
| 1994 | #3 | 33,654 | 1.7420% |
| 1993 | #3 | 35,780 | 1.8243% |
| 1992 | #3 | 37,733 | 1.8891% |
| 1991 | #3 | 41,647 | 2.0614% |
| 1990 | #3 | 44,822 | 2.1822% |
| 1989 | #3 | 45,374 | 2.2677% |
| 1988 | #3 | 45,875 | 2.3965% |
| 1987 | #3 | 46,507 | 2.4910% |
| 1986 | #3 | 46,924 | 2.5481% |
| 1985 | #3 | 47,079 | 2.5472% |
| 1984 | #3 | 49,769 | 2.7574% |
| 1983 | #3 | 50,208 | 2.8007% |
| 1982 | #3 | 46,050 | 2.5377% |
| 1981 | #3 | 43,328 | 2.4188% |
| 1980 | #6 | 37,839 | 2.1209% |
| 1979 | #6 | 35,625 | 2.0692% |
| 1978 | #6 | 34,285 | 2.0880% |
| 1977 | #9 | 31,967 | 1.9453% |
| 1976 | #9 | 29,952 | 1.9088% |
| 1975 | #9 | 28,530 | 1.8271% |
| 1974 | #9 | 27,197 | 1.7296% |
| 1973 | #10 | 24,535 | 1.5741% |
| 1972 | #10 | 22,931 | 1.4140% |
| 1971 | #19 | 22,542 | 1.2746% |
| 1970 | #24 | 20,188 | 1.0863% |
| 1969 | #24 | 17,461 | 0.9764% |
| 1968 | #24 | 15,824 | 0.9104% |
| 1967 | #28 | 13,568 | 0.7780% |
| 1966 | #34 | 10,805 | 0.6058% |
| 1965 | #36 | 9,984 | 0.5367% |
| 1964 | #43 | 8,983 | 0.4508% |
| 1963 | #50 | 8,034 | 0.3956% |
| 1962 | #56 | 7,282 | 0.3520% |
| 1961 | #59 | 7,078 | 0.3332% |
| 1960 | #61 | 6,924 | 0.3248% |
| 1959 | #63 | 6,544 | 0.3066% |
| 1958 | #60 | 6,378 | 0.3005% |
| 1957 | #83 | 5,236 | 0.2427% |
| 1956 | #90 | 4,365 | 0.2064% |
| 1955 | #105 | 3,279 | 0.1592% |
| 1954 | #124 | 2,688 | 0.1318% |
| 1953 | #130 | 2,374 | 0.1204% |
| 1952 | #142 | 2,032 | 0.1045% |
| 1951 | #163 | 1,605 | 0.0852% |
| 1950 | #174 | 1,299 | 0.0726% |
| 1949 | #177 | 1,219 | 0.0687% |
| 1948 | #190 | 1,054 | 0.0601% |
| 1947 | #196 | 1,045 | 0.0571% |
| 1946 | #194 | 892 | 0.0549% |
| 1945 | #198 | 730 | 0.0542% |
| 1944 | #196 | 765 | 0.0561% |
| 1943 | #197 | 822 | 0.0576% |
| 1942 | #189 | 842 | 0.0610% |
| 1941 | #198 | 727 | 0.0592% |
| 1940 | #198 | 664 | 0.0573% |
| 1939 | #201 | 622 | 0.0562% |
| 1938 | #205 | 608 | 0.0548% |
| 1937 | #201 | 605 | 0.0567% |
| 1936 | #202 | 608 | 0.0586% |
| 1935 | #195 | 654 | 0.0628% |
| 1934 | #202 | 610 | 0.0591% |
| 1933 | #201 | 581 | 0.0586% |
| 1932 | #188 | 702 | 0.0672% |
| 1931 | #208 | 608 | 0.0585% |
| 1930 | #204 | 657 | 0.0599% |
| 1929 | #189 | 727 | 0.0676% |
| 1928 | #182 | 784 | 0.0708% |
| 1927 | #183 | 790 | 0.0701% |
| 1926 | #185 | 777 | 0.0700% |
| 1925 | #174 | 840 | 0.0753% |
| 1924 | #171 | 850 | 0.0750% |
| 1923 | #163 | 935 | 0.0853% |
| 1922 | #159 | 982 | 0.0902% |
| 1921 | #161 | 914 | 0.0830% |
| 1920 | #152 | 967 | 0.0909% |
| 1919 | #152 | 879 | 0.0897% |
| 1918 | #148 | 963 | 0.0950% |
| 1917 | #149 | 862 | 0.0931% |
| 1916 | #148 | 825 | 0.0927% |
| 1915 | #150 | 798 | 0.0940% |
| 1914 | #151 | 613 | 0.0936% |
| 1913 | #151 | 491 | 0.0958% |
| 1912 | #156 | 380 | 0.0884% |
| 1911 | #153 | 220 | 0.0974% |
| 1910 | #158 | 197 | 0.1014% |
| 1909 | #170 | 147 | 0.0896% |
| 1908 | #157 | 152 | 0.0985% |
| 1907 | #174 | 124 | 0.0845% |
| 1906 | #150 | 136 | 0.1021% |
| 1905 | #177 | 107 | 0.0809% |
| 1904 | #186 | 97 | 0.0757% |
| 1903 | #167 | 102 | 0.0855% |
| 1902 | #170 | 104 | 0.0848% |
| 1901 | #167 | 89 | 0.0836% |
| 1900 | #162 | 130 | 0.0864% |
| 1899 | #151 | 101 | 0.0951% |
| 1898 | #135 | 133 | 0.1084% |
| 1897 | #156 | 100 | 0.0887% |
| 1896 | #136 | 123 | 0.1029% |
| 1895 | #139 | 112 | 0.0954% |
| 1894 | #132 | 124 | 0.1071% |
| 1893 | #138 | 108 | 0.0962% |
| 1892 | #128 | 132 | 0.1082% |
| 1891 | #123 | 113 | 0.1117% |
| 1890 | #165 | 86 | 0.0775% |
| 1889 | #118 | 118 | 0.1067% |
| 1888 | #136 | 114 | 0.0943% |
| 1887 | #123 | 108 | 0.1065% |
| 1886 | #124 | 112 | 0.1011% |
| 1885 | #124 | 111 | 0.1030% |
| 1884 | #124 | 117 | 0.1022% |
| 1883 | #152 | 86 | 0.0822% |
| 1882 | #127 | 109 | 0.0959% |
| 1881 | #157 | 80 | 0.0794% |
| 1880 | #117 | 113 | 0.1023% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
