Matthew Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Matthew is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “gift of God,” best known as the name of one of the four Gospel writers in the New Testament.
Meaning gift of God
Origin Hebrew (from Mattityahu)
Pronunciation MATH-yoo
Gender Boy
Related forms Matteo (Italian form), Mathieu (French form), Matias (Spanish form)

Origin and history

Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning gift of God, passed into Greek and then Latin before arriving in English. The name’s most significant historical association is Matthew the Apostle, traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, which established it as one of the most enduring Christian given names across nearly every European language.

Is Matthew a boy or girl name?

Matthew is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Nicknames for Matthew

  • Matt
  • Matty

Names similar to Matthew

  • Matteo (Italian form)
  • Mathieu (French form)
  • Matias (Spanish form)

Frequently asked questions

Is Matthew a Biblical name?

Yes, directly. It’s the name of one of the four Gospel writers, Matthew the Apostle, in the New Testament.

Why does Matthew have so many international forms?

Because it passed through Greek and Latin into nearly every European language via widespread Christian use, each language developing its own local form while keeping the same underlying Hebrew meaning.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names.