Matthew
Matthew comes from the Hebrew "Mattityahu" — "mattan" meaning gift and "Yah" being a short form of Yahweh. The name means "gift of God." Saint Matthew, the tax collector turned disciple, was the author of the first Gospel, which gave the name immense religious prestige in the Christian world. Matthew was the third most popular boy name in the US in the 1980s and 1990s — for a stretch, it seemed like every other boy had this name. It has declined since its peak but remains in the top 50. The name's ubiquity in the Millennial generation means it now reads as familiar rather than trendy, which is actually an advantage. Matthew sounds like a name you can trust because you probably know several. The sound is solid and unshowy. "MATH-yoo" has the M (soft), the TH (slightly formal), and the "oo" (warm). It does not call attention to itself, which is part of its appeal. Matt is one of the most natural nicknames in English — it is one syllable, impossible to mispronounce, and works from childhood through adulthood. Matthew is a name that gets out of the way and lets the person define it. Matthew is a male name of Hebrew (via Greek) origin that means "Gift of Yahweh". Reliable, friendly, and unpretentious. The name does not show off. Matthews are often the people you know you can count on. US top 3 in the 1980s-90s. Still top 50. A generational classic. Well-known people named Matthew include Saint Matthew (biblical), Matthew McConaughey (actor), Matthew Perry (actor), Matthew Broderick (actor), Matthew Desmond (sociologist). Common variations and related forms of Matthew include Matityahu (Hebrew), Matthieu (French), Mateo (Spanish), Matteo (Italian), Matt (short form).