Boy · 4th of 24,088
Matthew
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
1,652,565
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1983
Peak Popularity Year
50,525
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Matthew stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'gift of God.' It evolved through various languages from Matityahu to Matthaios and Matthaeus before becoming Matthew in English. The name has biblical significance due to its association with one of Jesus' apostles. Matthew gained popularity in the Middle Ages and remains well-regarded today, often perceived as classic and dependable.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈmæθjuː/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Matthew is derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, which means 'gift of Yahweh' or 'gift of God.' It was later translated into Greek as Matthaios and then into Latin as Matthaeus before being adopted into English.
Meaning
Gift of God
Language Evolution
Matityahu (Hebrew), Matthaios (Greek), Matthaeus (Latin), Matthew (Old English)
Biblical Background
The name Matthew is significant in the Christian tradition as it is borne by one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
Historical Usage
Matthew gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly among Christians, due to the apostolic connection and the influence of the Gospel.
Variants & Derivatives
Matthias, Matteo, Matthieu, Mateo, Matt
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Matthew is perceived as a classic and timeless name, often associated with qualities of kindness and dependability.
Famous People
Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Broderick, Matthew Perry, Matthew Arnold, Matthew Modine
Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Declining
25-Year Trend:
Gradually Declining
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 50,525 peak births in 1983
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in New Hampshire
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 10 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
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
Full popularity table across American generations 14 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 160th of 7545 | 14,341 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 202nd of 6773 | 12,316 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 91st of 7552 | 78,311 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 14th of 10718 | 383,233 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3rd of 16616 | 679,706 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4th of 24088 | 357,016 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 19th of 23106 | 119,737 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6602nd of 9107 | 21 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6507th of 9204 | 23 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4343rd of 12526 | 155 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1143rd of 19264 | 1,683 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 951st of 27321 | 2,969 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3855th of 35406 | 587 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9098th of 30306 | 137 |