Matthew (name)

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Matthew
Given Name
Gender Male
Meaning "Gift of Yahweh"
Origin Hebrew
Related names Mathew, Matt
Wikipedia articles All pages beginning with Matthew
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This page discusses the etymology and cognates of the name Matthew.

For notable people with the forename (that is, given name) Matthew, see Matthew (given name).

For notable people with the surname (that is, family name) Matthew (without -s), see Matthew (surname).

For notable people with the surname Matthews, see Matthews (surname).

For other uses of the name Matthew, see Matthew.


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Matthew (pronounced /ˈmæθjuː/) is the standard English form of the New Testament name Μαθθαιος[1], a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminutive מתי (Mattay, Maty). From Latin Matthæus, the English spelling Matthew (earlier Matheu) comes directly from the French Matthieu. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name מתתיהו (Matatyahu, Mattathias) or מתיתיהו (Matityahu, Mattithiah), Matthew means "gift of Yahweh". The Hebrew name is also spelled מתניהו (Matanyahu, Mattaniah). Related names include נתניהו (Netanyahu, Nethaniah), and with swapped syllables יהונתן (Yehonatan, Jonathan). The name is translated from Hebrew meaning gift of the lord.

A common name in the West, it is traditionally spelled "Matthew" in English, but sometimes "Mathew", and even as the Muslim name Mathyu. Matt is the most common hypocoristic form of the name in English. "Matthew" can also be a middle name, and the English surnames Matthews, Mathis, Mathewson, and Mattison are among many family names derived from it.

Although in English Matthew is a single name space, for most non-English languages the cognates split up into two separate name spaces. For example, in Spanish there is one name space around Matías and a second namespace around Mateo. The small but important difference here is the "i" letter in contrast to the "e" letter, often pronounced more like an English "a" or Latin "ae". In German the splitting is based upon Matthias for the first space and Matthäus for the second space.[citation needed]

[edit] Frequency and distribution

"Matthew" was the most frequently used male given name for newborns in Northern Ireland in 2000 and 2002, alternating with "Jack".[2]

[edit] Cognates and spellings

The following forenames are related to the English forename Matthew:

The following English surnames are related[3] to the forename Matthew:


[edit] References

  1. ^ Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland), KATA MAΘΘAION 9:9.
  2. ^ Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (2004-01-02). "Jack and Emma were the most popular first names in Northern Ireland in 2003" (PDF). Press release. Retrieved on 2008-02-14. “For boys Matthew and Jack have alternately been the most popular names from 2000. This year Matthew has moved from the most popular name in 2002....”
  3. ^ The Guinness Book of Names (1974)