Matthew: meaning and origin
Matthew
“Gift of God”
About the name Matthew
Matthew is a boy’s name from the Hebrew tradition. Its meaning is “gift of God”. Names from Hebrew, many of them from the Bible. They have been used in English for centuries — from Hannah and Sarah to Noah, Elijah and Levi.
Matthew is a biblical name, found in the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament, which is one reason it has been used for centuries in English-speaking families.
It’s a classic: a name that has been used for generations and still feels fresh.
More names with a similar meaning: names that mean gift of god.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Hebrew names
- Aaron 👦Exalted, mountain of strength · Hebrew
- Abraham 👦Father of many · Hebrew
- Adam 👦Man, earth · Hebrew
- Amos 👦Carried by God · Hebrew
- Ari 👦Lion · Hebrew
- Asher 👦Happy, blessed · Hebrew
- Benjamin 👦Son of the right hand · Hebrew
- Boaz 👦Swiftness, strength · Hebrew
- Caleb 👦Faithful, devoted · Hebrew
- Daniel 👦God is my judge · Hebrew
- David 👦Beloved · Hebrew
- Eitan 👦Strong, steady · Hebrew
Sibling name ideas (Hebrew, girls)
- Abigail 👧My father is joy · Hebrew
- Anna 👧Grace, favor; a form of Hannah · Hebrew
- Ayla 👧Oak tree · Hebrew
- Daniela 👧God is my judge · Hebrew
- Delilah 👧Delicate · Hebrew
- Eden 👧Delight; the Garden of Eden · Hebrew
- Eliana 👧My God has answered · Hebrew
- Elizabeth 👧My God is an oath · Hebrew
More boy names starting with M
- Magnus 👦Great; a royal name in Scandinavia · Latin
- Makoa 👦Fearless · Hawaiian
- Malik 👦King (from Arabic); popular in African American families · African American
- Marco 👦Warlike; dedicated to Mars · Italian
- Marcus 👦Warlike; dedicated to Mars · Latin
- Mason 👦Stone worker · English
- Mateo 👦Gift of God; the Spanish form of Matthew · Spanish
- Matteo 👦Gift of God · Italian
- Maverick 👦Independent one; from a Texas rancher who didn’t brand his cattle · English
- Maximus 👦The greatest · Latin
Questions and answers
What does the name Matthew mean?
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin. It means: gift of God.
Is Matthew a boy or girl name?
Matthew is usually given to boys.
How many syllables does Matthew have?
Matthew has 7 letters and about 2 syllables.
Is Matthew a popular name?
Yes. Matthew has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.