Matthew
How to say it: MATH-yoo · /ˈmæθjuː/
Gift of God — from the Hebrew Mattityahu, via Greek Matthaios, borne by an apostle.
Matthew was the 36th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 7,003 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 46% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #67 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #36 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 7,003 |
| Share of births | 1 in 456 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −46% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #67 |
| In France, 2025 | #290 among boys’ names, 60 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Matthew burned brightest in the 1980s and has grown rarer since. Now far below that high, it is expected to slip further.
What goes with it
Matthew combines soft and breathy sounds with a strong quality that travels well and a heritage as a biblical saints name. Michael and Daniel share its style.
Middle names that flow with Matthew →
Parents who love Matthew also love
Nicknames
- Matt
- Matty
Honouring a Matthew in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Matthew is about 1 in 19.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Greek, Hebrew.
In France: #290 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #153. Ireland: #56.
Famous people named Matthew
- Matthew McConaughey (born 1969)American actor
- Matthew Broderick (born 1962)American actor
- Matthew Perry (1969–2023)American-Canadian actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Hurricane Matthew (2016, Cat 5) retired by WMO in March 2017; will never again be used for an Atlantic storm
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