Matthew

What does Matthew mean?

Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, originally used to describe a present bestowed by Yahweh; its root meaning points to being an offered blessing rather than a descriptive trait. Because of its long biblical history and steady use in English, the name feels classic and dependable, giving an impression of warmth and gratitude - the sense that the child is welcomed and valued by their family and community.

Historical Context

The name Matthew comes from the Hebrew personal name Mattityahu. From there its journey into English followed the path of Scripture and the churches of Europe.

Early on the Hebrew form was rendered into Greek for use in the New Testament. That Greek form, written as Matthaios, was the version familiar to readers of the Gospels in the Greek-speaking world. As Christianity spread westward, the name passed into Latin as Matthaeus, the form used in church writings and liturgy across medieval Europe.

From Latin the name filtered into the vernaculars. In Old French and Anglo-Norman forms were adapted to local sounds and spelling, and these were the forms carried to England after the Norman Conquest. Through that historic link, the name entered Middle English and gradually took on the shape now used in modern English: Matthew.

The spread of the name is closely tied to the figure of the apostle and evangelist associated with the Gospel of Matthew. His presence in Christian texts and in the calendar of saints made the name familiar across different languages and cultures, encouraging its steady use from medieval times onward.

To sum up the key stages:

  • Mattityahu — Hebrew origin used in Jewish contexts.
  • Matthaios — Greek New Testament form that carried the name into Christian scripture.
  • Matthaeus — Latin ecclesiastical form used across medieval Europe.
  • Matthew — the modern English form reached via Norman and Middle English usage.
Where details are uncertain, they are mainly in the small shifts of pronunciation and spelling as the name moved between languages; the broad path from Hebrew through Greek and Latin into the European vernaculars is well attested and explains how the name came to be familiar in English-speaking contexts.

Popularity of Matthew over time

In 2025, Matthew was given to 353 boys in the UK and 7,003 boys in the US. Matthew has declined sharply over the last 20 years, but remains a popular boys' name especially in the US.

What do parents think of Matthew?