Boy name · Hebrew
Matthew
“gift of God”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Matthew.
Explore Matthew further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Matthew — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Matthew is Hebrew Mattityahu, gift of Yahweh, shortened through Greek Matthaios. It is the exact semantic twin of Greek Theodore and of Nathaniel, which makes those three effectively the same name in different languages.
It was a US top-five name through the 1980s and 1990s — the peak Matt generation — and has been declining steadily since without collapsing. It now sits at number 32.
Matt is universal and completely neutral. Two syllables want two or three (Matthew Everett, Matthew Sebastian). On our vibe map it is Heirloom with a Y2K Nostalgic marker from its peak decade.
More Hebrew names
Matthew sits in our Hebrew set — these share its roots.
All Hebrew names →Matthew — common questions
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is traditionally a boy name of Hebrew origin.
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew means “gift of God” of Hebrew origin. Matthew is Hebrew Mattityahu, gift of Yahweh, shortened through Greek Matthaios. It is the exact semantic twin of Greek Theodore and of Nathaniel, which makes those three effectively the same name in different languages.
Where does the name Matthew come from?
Matthew is Hebrew in origin. It was a US top-five name through the 1980s and 1990s — the peak Matt generation — and has been declining steadily since without collapsing. It now sits at number 32.
What are common nicknames for Matthew?
Matt and Matty — the short-forms parents most often use for Matthew.
How popular is Matthew?
Matthew 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 Matthew you might want for the nursery.