gender neutral
Matthew
gift of God, God's gift
About Matthew
Classic, enduring, and perpetually relevant, this name has proven its staying power across centuries and continents. It's the choice of parents who value tradition and timelessness over fleeting trends. The name carries inherent respectability—it's nearly impossible to picture someone with this name being taken anything less than seriously. Three syllables provide substance without being cumbersome, and the familiar sound ensures universal recognition and easy pronunciation. This is a name that never goes out of style, never sounds dated, and never needs explanation. It works in every context imaginable, from casual playground interactions to formal professional environments. The built-in nickname options provide flexibility as your son's personality develops. While popular, it's never felt oversaturated or tired. There's a reliability in choosing this name—you know exactly what you're getting, and what you're getting is excellence. The literary, historical, and cultural associations run deep, providing endless connections and meanings. It's safe without being boring, traditional without being stuffy. For parents who want a name that's stood the test of time and will continue to do so, this remains an impeccable choice generation after generation.
Popularity of the Name Matthew
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #117 | ||||
| 1881 | #157 | ||||
| 1882 | #127 | ||||
| 1883 | #152 | ||||
| 1884 | #124 | ||||
| 1885 | #124 | ||||
| 1886 | #124 | ||||
| 1887 | #123 | ||||
| 1888 | #136 | ||||
| 1889 | #118 | ||||
| 1890 | #165 | ||||
| 1891 | #123 | ||||
| 1892 | #128 | ||||
| 1893 | #138 | ||||
| 1894 | #132 | ||||
| 1895 | #139 | ||||
| 1896 | #136 | ||||
| 1897 | #156 | ||||
| 1898 | #135 | ||||
| 1899 | #151 | ||||
| 1900 | #162 | #116 | |||
| 1901 | #167 | #102 | |||
| 1902 | #170 | #94 | |||
| 1903 | #167 | #107 | |||
| 1904 | #186 | #100 | |||
| 1905 | #177 | #110 | |||
| 1906 | #150 | #113 | |||
| 1907 | #174 | #103 | |||
| 1908 | #157 | #109 | |||
| 1909 | #170 | #95 | |||
| 1910 | #158 | #88 | |||
| 1911 | #153 | #87 | |||
| 1912 | #156 | #101 | |||
| 1913 | #151 | #122 | |||
| 1914 | #151 | #108 | |||
| 1915 | #150 | #125 | |||
| 1916 | #148 | ||||
| 1917 | #149 | #131 | |||
| 1918 | #148 | #114 | |||
| 1919 | #152 | #118 | |||
| 1920 | #152 | ||||
| 1921 | #161 | #128 | |||
| 1922 | #159 | #136 | |||
| 1923 | #163 | #144 | |||
| 1924 | #171 | #141 | |||
| 1925 | #174 | ||||
| 1926 | #185 | #151 | |||
| 1927 | #183 | #140 | |||
| 1928 | #182 | #146 | |||
| 1929 | #189 | #155 | |||
| 1930 | #204 | #143 | |||
| 1931 | #208 | #148 | |||
| 1932 | #188 | #146 | |||
| 1933 | #201 | ||||
| 1934 | #202 | ||||
| 1935 | #195 | ||||
| 1936 | #202 | ||||
| 1937 | #201 | ||||
| 1938 | #205 | #161 | |||
| 1939 | #201 | #170 | |||
| 1940 | #198 | #144 | |||
| 1941 | #198 | #175 | |||
| 1942 | #189 | ||||
| 1943 | #197 | #146 | |||
| 1944 | #196 | ||||
| 1945 | #198 | #166 | |||
| 1946 | #194 | #172 | |||
| 1947 | #196 | #169 | |||
| 1948 | #190 | #181 | |||
| 1949 | #177 | #172 | |||
| 1950 | #174 | #152 | |||
| 1951 | #163 | #140 | |||
| 1952 | #142 | #141 | |||
| 1953 | #130 | #126 | |||
| 1954 | #124 | #133 | |||
| 1955 | #105 | #122 | |||
| 1956 | #90 | #117 | |||
| 1957 | #83 | #107 | |||
| 1958 | #60 | #97 | |||
| 1959 | #63 | #86 | |||
| 1960 | #61 | #78 | |||
| 1961 | #59 | #80 | |||
| 1962 | #56 | #64 | |||
| 1963 | #50 | #66 | |||
| 1964 | #43 | #60 | #59 | ||
| 1965 | #36 | #61 | #49 | ||
| 1966 | #34 | #41 | #52 | ||
| 1967 | #28 | #37 | #59 | ||
| 1968 | #24 | #32 | #58 | ||
| 1969 | #24 | #23 | #68 | ||
| 1970 | #24 | #17 | #76 | ||
| 1971 | #19 | #15 | #79 | ||
| 1972 | #10 | #11 | #68 | ||
| 1973 | #10 | #8 | #78 | ||
| 1974 | #9 | #7 | #71 | ||
| 1975 | #9 | #7 | #85 | ||
| 1976 | #9 | #3 | #71 | ||
| 1977 | #9 | #7 | #80 | ||
| 1978 | #6 | #5 | #72 | ||
| 1979 | #6 | #5 | #80 | ||
| 1980 | #6 | #6 | #76 | ||
| 1981 | #3 | #6 | #75 | ||
| 1982 | #3 | #6 | #67 | ||
| 1983 | #3 | #2 | #55 | ||
| 1984 | #3 | #3 | #60 | ||
| 1985 | #3 | #4 | #64 | ||
| 1986 | #3 | #3 | #60 | ||
| 1987 | #3 | #3 | #55 | ||
| 1988 | #3 | #3 | #49 | ||
| 1989 | #3 | #3 | #58 | ||
| 1990 | #3 | #1 | #51 | ||
| 1991 | #3 | #1 | #46 | #2 | |
| 1992 | #3 | #1 | #45 | #2 | |
| 1993 | #3 | #1 | #40 | #2 | |
| 1994 | #3 | #1 | #47 | #2 | |
| 1995 | #2 | #2 | #43 | #1 | |
| 1996 | #2 | #2 | #40 | #1 | |
| 1997 | #3 | #5 | #2 | #38 | #1 |
| 1998 | #3 | #5 | #2 | #21 | #1 |
| 1999 | #3 | #6 | #3 | #24 | #1 |
| 2000 | #3 | #6 | #5 | #24 | #1 |
| 2001 | #3 | #7 | #8 | #22 | #1 |
| 2002 | #4 | #10 | #11 | #17 | #2 |
| 2003 | #4 | #7 | #9 | #25 | #4 |
| 2004 | #4 | #11 | #7 | #23 | #3 |
| 2005 | #4 | #12 | #13 | #19 | #5 |
| 2006 | #5 | #14 | #14 | #17 | #7 |
| 2007 | #9 | #20 | #19 | #15 | #8 |
| 2008 | #10 | #23 | #21 | #20 | #12 |
| 2009 | #13 | #29 | #22 | #23 | #15 |
| 2010 | #16 | #35 | #34 | #23 | #16 |
| 2011 | #12 | #38 | #40 | #25 | #20 |
| 2012 | #12 | #42 | #38 | #24 | #25 |
| 2013 | #15 | #45 | #54 | #22 | #29 |
| 2014 | #16 | #44 | #38 | #28 | #32 |
| 2015 | #15 | #42 | #57 | #27 | #38 |
| 2016 | #15 | #46 | #44 | #29 | #44 |
| 2017 | #16 | #56 | #81 | #26 | #38 |
| 2018 | #20 | #70 | #84 | #23 | #54 |
| 2019 | #23 | #78 | #67 | #27 | #52 |
| 2020 | #30 | #100 | #100 | #40 | #64 |
| 2021 | #36 | #108 | #107 | #37 | #71 |
| 2022 | #39 | #99 | #85 | #42 | #79 |
| 2023 | #32 | #116 | #99 | #41 | #70 |
| 2024 | #33 | #131 | #132 | #45 | #63 |
| 2025 | #32 | #128 | #116 | #59 | #70 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Matthew
Names Similar to Matthew
Nicknames for Matthew
- Matt
- Matty
- Thew
- Mat
Famous People Named Matthew
| Matthew McConaughey | American actor |
| Matthew Perry | Canadian-American actor |
| Matthew Broderick | American actor |
| Matthew Gray Gubler | American actor |
| Matthew Modine | American actor |
| Matthew Rhys | Welsh actor |
| Matthew Goode | British actor |
| Matthew Morrison | American actor and singer |
| Matthew Fox | American actor |
| Matthew Lewis | English actor |
| Matthew Stafford | American football player |
| Matthew Hayden | Australian cricketer |
| Matthew Bourne | British choreographer |
| Matthew Vaughn | British filmmaker |
| Matthew Henson | American explorer |
| Matthew Bomer | American actor |
| Matthew Bellamy | English musician |
| Matthew Lillard | American actor |
| Matthew Macfadyen | English actor |
| Matthew Weiner | American television writer and producer |
Characters Named Matthew
| Matthew Crawley | Downton Abbey |
| Matthew Cuthbert | Anne of Green Gables |
| Matthew Murdock | Daredevil |
| Matthew Patel | Scott Pilgrim vs. the World |
| Matthew Casey | Chicago Fire |
| Matthew Malone | Grey's Anatomy |
| Matthew Keller | White Collar |
| Matthew Simmons | Criminal Minds |
| Matthew Daddario | Shadowhunters |
| Matthew Clairmont | A Discovery of Witches |
| Matthew Morgan | The Skeleton Key |
| Matthew Beckett | Castle |
| Matthew "Matt" Donovan | The Vampire Diaries |
| Matthew "Matt" Murdock | Marvel's Daredevil |
| Matthew "Matt" Santos | The West Wing |
| Matthew Cullen | The Twilight Saga |