Rising since 1994, #2,798 for boys today.
Popularity of Mateus since 1994
Babies named Mateus per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2007, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mateus's real moment was 2023.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 48 |
| 2000s | 300 |
| 2010s | 380 |
| 2020s | 266 |
Meaning & origin
Mateus entered U.S. records in 1994 and has shown a rising trajectory since then, reaching its peak rank of 2798 in 2023. In 2025, it was given to about 1 in every 37,957 boys, reflecting steady but modest use. The name is most common in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida, states with sizable Portuguese and Brazilian communities. Mateus remains a traditional yet relatively rare choice in the United States, distinct from the more common Matthew variant.
Mateus is the Portuguese form of Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh'. The name Matthew appears in the New Testament as one of the twelve apostles and the traditional author of the first Gospel. In Portuguese-speaking countries, Mateus has been a consistent choice, reflecting the strong Catholic heritage of the region.
Where Mateus is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mateus” around the world
Where Mateus lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Teus
Variants: Matheus
Sibling names for Mateus
Names that share Mateus's style, for a brother or sister.
