Matthew
Boy name · #32 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Matthew? In official American birth records, Matthew has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Matthew ranks #32 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 7,003 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #15, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 257 boys born in 2025 was named Matthew.
Babies named Matthew per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Matthew first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 113 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1983, when 50,209 boys were named Matthew — good for #3 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Matthew against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Matthew in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Matthew is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Matthew is most common
Geography matters for names, and Matthew is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Matthew is most common in AK (8.4 per 1,000), CT (7 per 1,000), FL (6.9 per 1,000), NH (6.9 per 1,000), RI (6.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Matthew is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Matthew
Matthew carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Matthew family went to about 7,032 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #32, versus #32 for Matthew alone.
Names like Matthew
Statistically, parents drawn to Matthew tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Andrew, Daniel, Anthony, Joshua, and Jonathan.
AndrewDanielAnthonyJoshuaJonathanAaronChristopherAdam
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Matthew | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,003 | #32 |
| 2024 | 7,107 | #33 |
| 2023 | 7,234 | #32 |
| 2022 | 7,077 | #39 |
| 2021 | 7,489 | #36 |
| 2020 | 8,142 | #30 |
| 2019 | 9,277 | #23 |
| 2018 | 10,009 | #20 |
| 2017 | 11,732 | #16 |
| 2016 | 12,665 | #15 |
| 2015 | 12,785 | #15 |
| 2014 | 12,944 | #16 |
| 2013 | 13,364 | #15 |
| 2012 | 13,993 | #12 |
| 2011 | 14,184 | #12 |
| 2010 | 14,148 | #16 |
| 2009 | 16,010 | #13 |
| 2008 | 17,604 | #10 |
| 2007 | 18,756 | #9 |
| 2006 | 20,339 | #5 |
| 2005 | 21,483 | #4 |
| 2004 | 22,882 | #4 |
| 2003 | 24,011 | #4 |
| 2002 | 25,154 | #4 |
| 2001 | 26,812 | #3 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Matthew?
In official American birth records, the name Matthew first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 113 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Matthew a popular boy name?
Matthew ranked #32 among boys in 2025 with 7,003 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #15.
When was the name Matthew most popular?
Matthew peaked in 1983, when 50,209 American boys received the name (ranked #3 that year). Since 1983 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Matthew?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 257 newborn American boys was named Matthew. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.