Matthew is a popular given name of English origin that has been widely used throughout history. It comes from the Latin name Matthias, which was originally derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu. The name Matthias means "gift of God" or "Gift from Yahweh."
The name Matthew first appeared in the New Testament of the Bible as one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles. He is also known as Levi and was a tax collector before becoming an apostle. According to tradition, Matthew wrote the first Gospel in the New Testament, which is why he is often referred to as Saint Matthew.
The name Matthew gained popularity during the Middle Ages due to its biblical associations. It has since become one of the most commonly used names in English-speaking countries. Throughout history, many notable figures have borne this name, including Matthew Paris (a 13th-century English chronicler), Matthew Arnold (a Victorian-era poet), and Matt Damon (an American actor).
In various forms and languages, the name Matthew has numerous variations. Some of these include:
* French: Mathieu
* Italian: Matteo
* Spanish: Mateo
* German: Matthias
* Dutch: Matthijs or Matteus
* Scandinavian: Mats
* Hungarian: Máté
Despite its popularity and wide usage, the name Matthew does not have any specific associated traits or characteristics. Like all names, it is simply a label used to identify an individual person. However, for those who share this name, they may take pride in its historical significance and religious importance. Ultimately, the meaning of a name lies in the interpretation and personal significance that each individual attaches to it.
The name Matt has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the years. In the late 19th to early 20th century, it was quite popular with over 50 births each year from 1884 onwards until peaking at 128 births in 1918. However, its popularity began to decline steadily after World War I, dropping below 100 births per year by the mid-1920s and continuing to fluctuate at lower levels throughout most of the 20th century. There was a brief resurgence in the late 1950s to early 1960s, reaching over 900 births in some years, but it has since returned to being less common with fewer than 100 births per year for most recent years on record. As of 2023, there were 46 births named Matt, continuing this trend of relative rarity. Overall, the total number of births named Matt from 1880 to 2023 is 23,812.