Matthew (name)

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For the related surname, see Matthews.

Matthew is the standard English form of the New Testament name Ματθαιος (Matthaios) or Μαθθαιος (Maththaios), a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminuitive 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 the LORD; gift of the god Yahu".

The Hebrew name is also spelled מתניהו (Matanyahu, Mattaniah). Related names include נתניהו (Netanyahu, Nethaniah), and its inversion יהונתנ (Yehonatan, Jonathan).

A common name in the West, it is traditionally spelled "Matthew", but sometimes "Mathew", and even as the Muslim name Mathyu. "Matthew" can also be a last name, when an "s" is generally added to the end ("Matthews").

Popularity in the United States

Since 1975, "Matthew" has remained in the top 10 list of most popular names chosen for new-born babies in the United States. Additionally, since 1981, "Matthew" has remained among the top 4 most popular; peaking at the number 2 spot in both 1994 and 1996.

Alternative names and spellings

• Mathai or Matha (Malayalam)
• Matthæus (Latin)
• Matthaios, Maththaios (Greek)
• Mathias, Matthias (German)
• Mattäus (Swedish, German)
• Matthäus (German)
• Mateo or Matteo (Spanish) (esperanto)
• Matteo (Italian)
• Mattias, Matthias (Danish, Swedish, German)
• Mathijs or Mattijs (Dutch)
• Matei (Romanian)
• Mathios (Armenian)
• Mateus (Portuguese)
• Máté, Mátyás (Hungarian)
• Moshei (Hebrew)
• Makaio, Mataio (Hawaiian)
• Mateu (Catalan)
• Matěj or Matouš (Czech)
• Matej, Mate (Croatian, Slovak, Slovenian)
• Matevž (Slovenian)
• Maciej, Mateusz (Polish)
• Мацей/Maciej (Belarusian)
• Matvei (Матвей), Matfei (Матфей), (Russian), Motya (Мотя) (diminuitive)
• Matti (Finnish)
• Matthias (Greek, German, sometimes Mathias)
• Mattheus (Dutch, Biblical)
• Mattæus (Danish, biblical)
• Matteus (Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, biblical)
• Mathieu (French, common) or Matthieu (biblical)
• Mats (Swedish, common)
• Mads, Madz, Madts (Danish, common (Mads is the usual form))
• Maitias (Gaelic)
• Maitiú (Irish)
• Matius (Malay)
• Mattheo (Interlingua)
• Matúš (Slovak)
• Матија (Serbian)
• Matt, Matty, Mattie (English diminuitives)

Famous Matthews (and alternative nicknames)

Actors

• Matthew Broderick
• Matt Damon
• Matt LeBlanc
• Matthew McConaughey
• Matthew Modine
• Matt Moore
• Matthew Perry (actor)
• Matthew Walker
• Matthew Fox (actor)

Musicians

• Matthew Bellamy
• Matteo Carcassi
• Matthew Good
• Matt Johnson
• Matthew Paul Miller (Matisyahu)
• Matt Sorum (The Cult, Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver)
• Matthew Sweet
• Matt Tuck
• Matt Heafy

Sport

• Matt Burke — Rugby Union footballer
• Matt Giteau — Rugby Union footballer
• Matt Hardy — pro-wrestler
• Matt Hasselbeck — Pro football player
• Matt Hoffman — BMX rider
• Matthew Holland — Irish Football star and captain
• Matthew Upson — English / Birmingham City Football player
• Matthew Johns— entertainer & former Rugby League footballer
• Matt Leinart — College Football Quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner
• Matt Morris — Baseball pitcher
• Matt Perry (rugby player) — Rugby Union footballer
• Mat Rogers (rugby player) — Rugby Union/League footballer
• Matthias Sammer — German Football Libero
• Mats Sundin — Pro ice hockey player
• Matthew Walker — English cricketer
• Matthew Behan — Irish footballer; Cork City Football Club

Writers

• Matthew Arnold, poet
• Matteo Bandello, novelist
• James Matthew Barrie, novelist and dramatist who created Peter Pan
• Matthew Jefferies, aviation and mechanical artist, set designer and writer
• Matthew Reilly, thrill novelist

Religious Figures

• Matthew the Evangelist
• St. Matthias
• Matthew George Easton
• Matthew Blagden Hale
• Matthew of Krakow
• Matthew Paris
• Matthew Parker
• Arnold Matthew ("Matthew" as a surname)

Explorers

• Matthew Flinders
• Matthew Henson
• Matthew Perry (naval officer)

Others

• Matthew Cook
• Matt Stone — creator of South Park cartoon and various films
• Matthew Shepard — murdered University student
• Matthew Hale (jurist) — jurist
• Matthew F. Hale — white supremacist leader
• Matt Hale — artist
• Matt Groening — creator of The Simpsons cartoon
• Mathew Neville-lamb — Creator of The Wharehouse a chain of stores in New Zealand

de:Matthias eo:Matiaso it:Matteo hu:Máté pl:Maciej (imię) ru:Матвей sk:Matej sv:Mattias