Matija is of Slavic origin, derived from the Latin 'Matthias,' meaning 'gift of God.' It's predominantly used in Croatia and other parts of Eastern Europe. The name Matija gained popularity in the region during the Middle Ages through St. Matthias, one of Jesus' apostles who replaced Judas Iscariot.
"The name Matija experienced some fluctuations in popularity recently, with a total of 17 babies named Matija born between 2020 and 2023. There were 7 births in 2020, followed by a dip to 5 births in both 2021 and 2023."