Matthew is a popular given name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Hebrew name Matthias, which means "gift of God." In the New Testament of the Bible, Matthew is one of the twelve apostles and also the author of the first Gospel. Throughout history, many notable individuals have borne this name, including several saints and martyrs.
The name Matthew has been widely used in English-speaking countries for generations. It has consistently ranked among the top 500 names given to boys in the United States since the early 20th century. In recent years, it has also gained popularity in other countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
One famous bearer of the name Matthew was Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the popular television show "Friends." Another notable Matthew is Matthew McConaughey, an Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in films such as "Dallas Buyers Club" and "Interstellar."
Overall, the name Matthew has a rich history and carries a strong meaning that has contributed to its enduring popularity. It remains a classic choice for parents looking for a timeless and meaningful name for their baby boy.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Matthew in the United States from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1945, the number of births with the name Matthew fluctuated between approximately 60 and 1,000 births per year. However, starting in the late 1940s and into the 1950s, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Matthew, with over 2,000 births per year from 1950 onwards.
The peak of popularity for the name Matthew occurred between the late 1960s and early 1980s. During this period, the number of annual births with the name Matthew exceeded 30,000 in some years, reaching a high of over 43,000 births in 1981.
After the peak in popularity, the number of births with the name Matthew started to decline gradually. Between 1990 and 2020, the annual number of births with the name Matthew ranged between approximately 7,000 and 25,000 births per year.
Recently, the popularity of the name Matthew has continued to decline, with fewer than 8,000 births each year from 2018 to 2023. As of 2023, the total number of births with the name Matthew in the United States since 1880 is approximately 1,639,789.