UK boy's name
Matteus
Gift of God, derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Matteus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Matteus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 5 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2003 to 2023. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Matteus. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Matteus ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 5 boys were registered as Matteus.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Matteus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
5 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Matteus mean?
Matteus is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God". The name has its roots in the ancient Israelite culture and can be traced back to the Bible, where it appears as the name of several individuals, including one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
The name Matteus gained popularity during the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and the Middle East. It was particularly common in ancient Greece, where it was rendered as Maththaios, and in Latin-speaking regions, where it took the form Matthaeus or Mattheus.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Matteus can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, which is believed to have been written in the late 1st century AD. The author of this gospel is traditionally identified as Matthew the Apostle, who was also known as Levi, a tax collector before becoming a follower of Jesus.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Matteus. One of the most famous is Matteus Platearius (c. 1100 – c. 1161), an Italian physician and scholar from Salerno, who wrote several influential works on medicine and pharmacology during the medieval period.
Another prominent figure was Matteus Parisiensis (c. 1200 – 1259), an English Benedictine monk and chronicler, best known for his influential work "Chronica Majora" (Great Chronicle), which recorded events in England and Europe during the 13th century.
In the field of literature, Matteus Plantevit (c. 1390 – c. 1470), also known as Matteus de Vendôme, was a French poet and clergyman who composed works in Latin and French during the Renaissance.
In the realm of art, Matteus Meryan (1621 – 1687) was a renowned German-Swiss engraver and etcher, known for his intricate biblical illustrations and landscapes.
Finally, Matteus Deliusmånd (1827 – 1903) was a Norwegian politician and farmer who served as a member of the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) and played a significant role in the country's agricultural policies during the late 19th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Matteus over time
The chart below shows babies named Matteus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Matteus, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matteus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Matteus 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3416 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3595 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Matteus
- 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
Matteus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Matteus in the UK right now?
In 2023, Matteus was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Matteus most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 5 babies registered as Matteus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Matteus?
Gift of God, derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu.
How many people are called Matteus in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Matteus across the 4 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.