Declining since 1988, #973 for boys today.
Popularity of Mathew since 1880
Babies named Mathew per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 474 |
| 1890s | 415 |
| 1900s | 385 |
| 1910s | 1,584 |
| 1920s | 1,739 |
| 1930s | 890 |
| 1940s | 866 |
| 1950s | 2,059 |
| 1960s | 4,653 |
| 1970s | 10,849 |
| 1980s | 18,622 |
| 1990s | 16,799 |
| 2000s | 10,615 |
| 2010s | 5,910 |
| 2020s | 1,678 |
Meaning & origin
Mathew is a spelling variant of Matthew that has carved out its own identity, particularly in Irish and American contexts. Though its peak came in 1987 (when it ranked highest), the name has been on a falling trajectory since 1988, dropping to rank 973 in the most recent year. At 1 in 7,268 boys, it remains a less common alternative to the standard Matthew. The name has been recorded since 1880, and its strongest state associations are in Kentucky, Florida, and Massachusetts. Despite its relative rarity, Mathew carries the same biblical weight as its more common counterpart, offering a subtly distinct spelling for parents who appreciate the classic meaning.
Mathew is a variant spelling of Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God.' The name appears in the Christian Bible as one of the twelve apostles and the author of the first Gospel. Its use in English-speaking countries dates to the Middle Ages, and the Mathew spelling has been particularly common in Ireland as a surname-derived given name due to the influence of Irish surnames like Mathew or Mathews.
Where Mathew is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mathew” around the world
Where Mathew lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Matt, Matty
Sibling names for Mathew
Names that share Mathew's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Mathew
Names whose popularity has moved with Mathew's over the last 50 years.
