Holding steady.
Popularity of Matej since 2002
Babies named Matej per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2005, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Matej's real moment was 2014.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 53 |
| 2010s | 59 |
| 2020s | 27 |
Meaning & origin
Matej is a Slavic variation of Matthew, meaning 'gift of God,' rooted in the Hebrew name Matityahu. Since its first recorded use in the U.S. in 2002, Matej has maintained a stable trajectory, with its peak year of usage occurring in 2014. Despite not ranking among the top 1000 names, its consistent presence in baby name records over the past two decades reflects steady, if niche, appeal among families with Central or Eastern European heritage. The name's popularity in countries like Slovenia and Croatia contributes to its international character, though in the U.S., it remains relatively uncommon. Its straightforward pronunciation and spelling make it accessible while preserving its cultural distinctiveness.
Matej is a Slavic form of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning 'gift of God.' The name has been widely used in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Slovenia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. It gained popularity through Saint Matthew, one of the twelve apostles and author of the first Gospel.
“Matej” around the world
Where Matej lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mat, Mato, Mate
Variants: Matěj, Mateusz, Matthäus
Sibling names for Matej
Names that share Matej's style, for a brother or sister.
