Matthew
Say it: MATH-yoo/ˈmæθjuː/
BoyMeans usually explained as "gift of God"7 letters2 syllables
#55
in Ireland (2025)
#58 with spellings combined
98
babies in 2025
#15
best rank (2007)
12,256
babies since 1964
Down 31
10-year rank change
Matthew through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 98 | #58 |
| 2024 | 131 | #44 |
| 2023 | 134 | #41 |
| 2022 | 146 | #42 |
| 2021 | 170 | #37 |
| 2020 | 148 | #40 |
| 2019 | 222 | #27 |
| 2018 | 259 | #23 |
| 2017 | 256 | #26 |
| 2016 | 247 | #29 |
| 2015 | 279 | #27 |
| 2014 | 260 | #28 |
| 2013 | 323 | #22 |
| 2012 | 336 | #24 |
| 2011 | 331 | #24 |
| 2010 | 344 | #23 |
| 2009 | 343 | #23 |
| 2008 | 408 | #20 |
| 2007 | 430 | #15 |
| 2006 | 395 | #17 |
| 2005 | 379 | #19 |
| 2004 | 361 | #23 |
| 2003 | 304 | #25 |
| 2002 | 351 | #17 |
| 2001 | 287 | #22 |
| 2000 | 275 | #24 |
| 1999 | 259 | #24 |
| 1998 | 281 | #21 |
| 1997 | 234 | #38 |
| 1996 | 216 | #40 |
| 1995 | 181 | #43 |
| 1994 | 162 | #47 |
| 1993 | 208 | #39 |
| 1992 | 183 | #45 |
| 1991 | 182 | #46 |
| 1990 | 165 | #51 |
| 1989 | 129 | #58 |
| 1988 | 165 | #49 |
| 1987 | 138 | #55 |
| 1986 | 127 | #59 |
| 1985 | 121 | #64 |
| 1984 | 143 | #59 |
| 1983 | 157 | #55 |
| 1982 | 133 | #67 |
| 1981 | 114 | #75 |
| 1980 | 110 | #76 |
| 1979 | 98 | #79 |
| 1978 | 111 | #72 |
| 1977 | 92 | #79 |
| 1976 | 106 | #71 |
| 1975 | 87 | #85 |
| 1974 | 102 | #71 |
| 1973 | 99 | #77 |
| 1972 | 116 | #68 |
| 1971 | 92 | #78 |
| 1970 | 92 | #76 |
| 1969 | 95 | #67 |
| 1968 | 104 | #58 |
| 1967 | 99 | #59 |
| 1966 | 120 | #52 |
| 1965 | 129 | #49 |
| 1964 | 89 | #59 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Matthew mean?
Usually explained as "gift of God"
Biblical, through Latin and Greek from Aramaic Mattai, related to Hebrew Mattityahu.
Say it right
MATHyoo
Many Irish speakers say the th close to a t, as MAT-yoo.
The story of Matthew
Matthew reached English through French and Latin from the Greek Matthaios, which came from the Aramaic Mattai. It is related to the Hebrew Mattityahu, gift of God, and that is the meaning usually given.
The name belongs to Saint Matthew, one of the twelve apostles. The gospels describe him as a tax collector, and tradition credits him with the first gospel of the New Testament.
Matthew has never left the Irish list. It was given to 89 boys in 1964 and grew steadily from there. Its best year came in 2007 with 430 babies, when it was number 15. In Northern Ireland it was even more popular, and it topped the list there in 1997, the first year of those figures.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Matthew (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Matthew (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
MattMatty
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | 98 | 12,256 |
In Northern Ireland
#61 in 2025 with 37 babies. Best rank #1 (1997); 6,279 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.