Matthew (name)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Matthew | |
| Gender: | Male |
|---|---|
| Origin: | Greek |
| Meaning: | "Gift of the Lord" |
Matthew is the standard English form of the New Testament name Ματθαιος (Matthaios), 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 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 יהונתן (Yehonatan, Jonathan). The name is translated from hebrew meaning gift of the lord. His loving nature and wisdom is often taken and he always keeps his promises.
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 last name, and the English surnames Matthews, Mathis, Mathewson, and Mattison are among many family names derived from it.
[edit] Popularity in the United States of America
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.
[edit] Alternative names and spellings
- Mathai, Mathew (Malayalam)
- Matthæus (Latin)
- Matthaios, Maththaios (Greek)
- Mathias, Matthias (German, Danish)
- Mattäus (Swedish, German)
- Matthäus (German)
- Mateo (Spanish) (Esperanto)
- Matteo (Italian)
- Mattis (Swedish)
- Mattias, Matthias (Danish, Swedish, German, Estonian)
- Matthías (Icelandic)
- Mathijs, Matthijs, Mattijs, Mattheus (Dutch)
- Matei (Romanian)
- Mathios (Armenian)
- Mateus (Portuguese)
- Máté, Mátyás (Hungarian)
- Matta, Mətta (Azeri)
- Mattai, Mattithyahu (Hebrew)
- Makaio, Mataio (Hawaiian)
- Mateu (Catalan)
- Matěj, Matouš (Czech)
- Matej, Mate (Croatian, Slovak, Slovenian)
- Matevž, Matjaž (Slovenian)
- Maciej, Mateusz (Polish)
- Мацей, Maciej (Belarusian)
- Matvei (Матвей), Matfei (Матфей), Motya (Мотя) (Russian)
- Mati (Estonian)
- Matti (Finnish)
- Matias (Finnish)
- Matthias, Mathias (Greek, German)
- Mattheus (Dutch)
- Mattæus (Danish)
- Matteus (Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish)
- Mathieu, Matthieu (French)
- Mats (Swedish)
- Mads, Madz, Madts (Danish)
- Maitias (Gaelic)
- Maitiú (Irish)
- Matius (Malay)
- Mattheo (Interlingua)
- Matas, Motiejus (Lithuanian)
- Matúš (Slovak)
- Матија (Serbian)
- Matt, Matty, Mattie (English)
- Матвій (Matviy), Матей (Matey) (Ukrainian)
- Матей (Matey) (Bulgarian)
