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Matthew is the standard English form of the New Testament name Ματθαιος (Matthaios) or Μαθθαιος (Maththaios), a Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminuitive מתי (Mattay, Maty). From Latin Matthæus, the English spelling Matthew (earlier Matheu) comes to us 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 יהונתנ (Yehonatan, Jonathan).

A common name in the West, it is traditionally spelled "Matthew", but sometimes "Mathew", and even as the Muslim name Mathyu. "Matthew" can also be a last name, when an "s" is generally added to the end ("Matthews").

Popularity in the United States

Ever since 1975 the name Matthew has never dropped out of the top ten most popular names chosen for new-born babies in the United States, and every year since 1981 has remained among the top four -- peaking at number two in both 1994 and 1996.

Alternative names and spellings

Mathai or Matha (Malayalam)
Matthæus (Latin)
Matthaios, Maththaios (Greek)
Mathies, Matthies (German)
Mattäus (Swedish, German)
Matthäus (German)
Mateo or Matteo (Spanish) (esperanto)
Matteo (Italian)
Mattias, Matthias (Danish, Swedish, German)
Mathijs or Mattijs (Dutch)
Matei (Romanian)
Mateus (Portuguese)
Máté, Mátyás (Hungarian)
Moshei (Hebrew)
Makaio, Mataio (Hawaiian)
Mateu (Catalan)
Matěj or Matouš (Czech)
Matej (Croatian, Slovak, Slovenian)
Matevž (Slovenian)
Maciej, Mateusz (Polish)
Мацей/Maciej (Belarusian)
Matvei (Матвей), Matfei (Матфей), (Russian), Motya (Мотя) (diminuitive)
Matti (Finnish)
Matthias (Greek, German, sometimes Mathias)
Mattheus (Dutch, Biblical)
Mattæus (Danish, biblical)
Matteus (Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, biblical)
Mathieu (French, common) or Matthieu (biblical)
Mats (Swedish, common)
Mads, Madz, Madts (Danish, common (Mads is the usual form))
Maitias (Gaelic)
Matius (Malay)
Mattheo (Interlingua)
Matúš (Slovak)
Матија (Serbian)
Matt, Matty, Mattie (English diminuitives)

Famous Matthews (and alternative nicknames)

Actors

Musicians

Sport

Matt Hardy — pro-wrestler
Matt Hoffman — BMX rider
Matthew Johns— entertainer & former Rugby League footballer
Matt Morris — Baseball pitcher
Matt Perry (rugby player) — Rugby Union footballer
Matt Burke — Rugby Union footballer
Mat Rogers (rugby player) — Rugby Union/League footballer
Matt Giteau — Rugby Union footballer
Matthew Walker — English cricketer
Matt Holland — Irish Football star and captain
Matthias Sammer — German Football Libero
Matt Hasselbeck — Pro football player
Matt Leinart — College Football Quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner
Mats Sundin — Pro ice hockey player

Writers

Matthew Arnold — poet
Matteo Bandello — novelist

Religious Figures

Explorers

Others

Matthew Cook
Matt Stone — creator of South Park cartoon and various films
Matthew Shepard — murdered University student
Matthew Hale (jurist) — jurist
Matthew F. Hale — white supremacist leader
Matt Hale — artist
Matt Groening — creator of The Simpsons cartoon

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 * Makaio, Mataio ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]])
 * Mateu ([[Catalan language|Catalan]])
-* Matěj ([[Czech language|Czech]])
+* Matěj or Matouš ([[Czech language|Czech]])
 * Matej ([[Croatian language|Croatian]], [[Slovak language|Slovak]], [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]])
 * Matevž ([[Slovenian language|Slovenian]])