Boy name · Portuguese
Mateus
“gift of God”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Mateus.
Explore Mateus further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Mateus — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Mateus is the Portuguese Matthew, from Hebrew Mattityahu — gift of Yahweh. The same name reaches Spanish as Mateo, Italian as Matteo, and Portuguese alone puts the u in, which is the single letter that tells a reader which country a boy is from.
It has been at or near the top of Brazilian naming charts for two decades, and unlike most names at that altitude it has not picked up a dated feel, because the underlying name is three thousand years old and has been continuously in use.
Three syllables, said ma-TEH-oosh in Portugal and ma-TEH-oos in Brazil. On our vibe map it is Heirloom, with Cultural Fusion held behind a real aesthetic primary.
More Portuguese names
Mateus sits in our Portuguese set — these share its roots.
All Portuguese names →Mateus — common questions
Is Mateus a boy or girl name?
Mateus is traditionally a boy name of Portuguese origin.
What does the name Mateus mean?
Mateus means “gift of God” of Portuguese origin. Mateus is the Portuguese Matthew, from Hebrew Mattityahu — gift of Yahweh. The same name reaches Spanish as Mateo, Italian as Matteo, and Portuguese alone puts the u in, which is the single letter that tells a reader which country a boy is from.
Where does the name Mateus come from?
Mateus is Portuguese in origin. It has been at or near the top of Brazilian naming charts for two decades, and unlike most names at that altitude it has not picked up a dated feel, because the underlying name is three thousand years old and has been continuously in use.
What are common nicknames for Mateus?
Mat and Teu — the short-forms parents most often use for Mateus.
How popular is Mateus?
Mateus did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Mateus you might want for the nursery.