What Does the Name Matthew Mean?
Matthew is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning “gift of God.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Matthew |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | gift of God |
| Variants | Matt, Mathew, Matteo, Mateo, Matthias |
| Popularity | A US top 5 boys' name through the 1980s-1990s, ranking number 1 in the mid-1990s. |
The meaning and origin of Matthew
The name Matthew means “gift of God” and has Hebrew origins. From the Hebrew Mattityahu (gift of Yahweh), via Greek Matthaios. Borne by one of the twelve apostles, traditionally credited with the first Gospel.
Variants and related names
Matthew is related to several other names you may recognize: Matt, Mathew, Matteo, Mateo, Matthias. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Matthew?
A US top 5 boys' name through the 1980s-1990s, ranking number 1 in the mid-1990s.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Matthew below.
Generate a fake Matthew profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Matthew? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Matthew mean?+
The name Matthew means “gift of God” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Matthew?+
Matthew originates from Hebrew.
Is Matthew a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Matthew has trended in the US over time.
Matthew by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press