Matt Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Matt is a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Mattiyahu, meaning 'gift of God.' It has evolved through several languages, including Greek and Old French, before becoming popular in English. The name has biblical relevance due to its connection with the apostle Matthew. Today, Matt is seen as a warm and approachable name, with notable bearers in various fields.
The name Matt is most popular in Idaho, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Matt has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Matt' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 597th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 811th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 356th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 344th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 889th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2166th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2655th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 19264th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Matt' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Matt"
Pronunciation
/mæt/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Matt is derived from the Hebrew name Mattiyahu, which means 'gift of God.' It is often used as a short form of the name Matthew.
Meaning
gift of God
Language Evolution
Mattiyahu (Hebrew), Matthaeus (Greek), Matthew (Old French), Matt (English)
Biblical Background
Matt has biblical significance as it is a diminutive of Matthew, one of the apostles and the author of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the Middle Ages, particularly after the Protestant Reformation when biblical names became more common.
Variants & Derivatives
Matthew, Matteo, Matthias, Mat
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, Matt is perceived as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and reliability.
Famous People
Matt Damon, Matt LeBlanc, Matt Groening, Matt Ryan
Explore More Matt Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Matt"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Matt"
"Matt" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 597th of 7545 | 1,775 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 811th of 6773 | 1,098 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 356th of 7552 | 8,242 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 344th of 10718 | 8,617 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 889th of 16616 | 2,006 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2166th of 24088 | 890 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2655th of 23106 | 577 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 19264th of 19264 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Matt" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
29.17% 413th/1416 |
54.24% 748th/1379 |
36.05% 853rd/2366 |
61.21% 699th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
43.40% 671st/1546 |
- |
39.78% 936th/2353 |
49.39% 764th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.71% 283rd/2227 |
18.11% 440th/2430 |
16.86% 481st/2853 |
9.08% 252nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
8.48% 249th/2937 |
14.01% 488th/3483 |
12.14% 427th/3518 |
6.95% 281st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
24.31% 896th/3685 |
32.80% 1468th/4475 |
16.96% 881st/5194 |
16.48% 1041st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
55.52% 2544th/4582 |
47.35% 2445th/5164 |
32.56% 2381st/7313 |
22.44% 1675th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
48.12% 2159th/4487 |
39.46% 2692nd/6822 |
27.17% 1705th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Matt" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Matt"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Matt" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.