Matthew
Peaked at #2 nationally in 1995, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Matthew has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Matthew comes from the Hebrew "Mattityahu," meaning "gift of God." It entered wide use through Matthew the Apostle, traditionally credited as the author of the Gospel of Matthew, and became one of the standard names of the Christian world by the Middle Ages.
Notable people & culture
Beyond its biblical namesake, the name has been carried by actors Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Broderick, and the late Matthew Perry of "Friends." Matt is its near-universal short form.
Play with Matthew
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Matthew.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Matthew — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#570
in 1983
Current rank
#11736
in 2024
Years tracked
81
1911–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1911, Matthew reached its peak popularity for girls in 1983, ranking #570 nationally with 317 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #7938 (2014) to #11736 (2024) — a 32% drop.
As of 2024, Matthew ranks #11736 nationally for girls, with 8 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11,736 | 8 |
| 2023 | #14,541 | 6 |
| 2022 | #10,916 | 9 |
| 2021 | #10,049 | 10 |
| 2020 | #12,998 | 7 |
| 2019 | #7,585 | 15 |
| 2018 | #10,300 | 10 |
| 2017 | #8,609 | 13 |
Matthew — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#2
in 1995
Current rank
#33
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Matthew reached its peak popularity for boys in 1995, ranking #2 nationally with 32,879 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #16 (2014) to #33 (2024) — a 52% drop.
As of 2024, Matthew ranks #33 nationally for boys, with 7,078 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #33 | 7,078 |
| 2023 | #32 | 7,221 |
| 2022 | #39 | 7,070 |
| 2021 | #36 | 7,479 |
| 2020 | #30 | 8,137 |
| 2019 | #23 | 9,270 |
| 2018 | #20 | 10,004 |
| 2017 | #16 | 11,730 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Matthew most popular?
Matthew was most popular in 1995, when it ranked #2 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Matthew becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Matthew?
At least 1,652,565 babies have been recorded with the name Matthew in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Matthew? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.