UK boy's name
Matan
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Matan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Matan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 7 births.
This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2003 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Matan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Matan ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 7 boys were registered as Matan.
- • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Matan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
7 births
Estimated living
56
2026
Meaning
What does Matan mean?
The name Matan is a Hebrew name with roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "matanah," which means "gift" or "present." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East region, particularly in ancient Israel.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Matan can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is mentioned as the name of one of the sons of Eleazar, who was a grandson of Aaron, the brother of Moses. This reference suggests that the name has been in use for several millennia.
In the 8th century BCE, there was a notable figure named Matan, who was a priest during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. He is mentioned in the Book of Kings in the Hebrew Bible as one of the advisors who counseled the king to engage in idolatrous practices.
During the Middle Ages, the name Matan was relatively uncommon but still in use among Jewish communities. One notable individual with this name was Matan ben Moses, a 13th-century Jewish scholar and philosopher from Provence, France.
In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the name Matan was Matan Vilnai, an Israeli politician and former government minister, who was born in 1944 and served in various roles, including as the Deputy Defense Minister of Israel.
Another notable figure was Matan Kahana, an Israeli religious leader and author, who was born in 1952 and is known for his work in promoting Jewish education and spirituality.
Matan Arazi is an Israeli former professional tennis player who was born in 1981 and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 18 in the world in 2001.
Matan Toker is an Israeli filmmaker and writer, born in 1980, who is known for directing award-winning films such as "Rotterdam" and "Love Trilogy."
Matan Vilnai, Matan Kahana, Matan Arazi, and Matan Toker are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Matan throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance within the Hebrew and Jewish cultural traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Matan over time
The chart below shows babies named Matan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Matan, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Matan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3789 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4008 | 24 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3124 | 18 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Matan
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Matan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Matan in the UK right now?
In 2022, Matan was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Matan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 7 babies registered as Matan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Matan?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift".
How many people are called Matan in the UK?
A total of 56 babies have been registered as Matan across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.