UK boy's name
Matthan
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift" or "gift of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Matthan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Matthan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2017 to 2020. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Matthan. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Matthan ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 boys were registered as Matthan.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Matthan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Matthan mean?
The name Matthan is of Hebrew origin, tracing its roots back to ancient times in the Middle East. It is a variation of the Hebrew name Mattathiah, which means "gift of God" or "given by God." The earliest known use of this name can be found in the Bible, where it is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Matthan was a figure mentioned in the New Testament's Book of Matthew. He was the grandfather of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. This biblical reference firmly establishes the name's presence in the early days of Christianity.
Throughout history, the name Matthan has been used by individuals from various backgrounds and cultures, though its usage has been relatively limited compared to other biblical names. One notable bearer of the name was Matthan the Scribe, a Jewish scholar who lived in the 9th century CE in present-day Iraq. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of Hebrew linguistics and his work on the Masorah, a critical study of the Hebrew Bible.
In the 12th century, there was a Jewish philosopher and theologian named Matthan ben Joseph, who lived in Spain during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in the Iberian Peninsula. He was known for his writings on various aspects of Jewish law and philosophy.
Moving forward in time, another noteworthy figure named Matthan was Matthan ben Solomon, a 16th-century Jewish scholar and kabbalist from Salonica, Greece. He was highly respected for his expertise in the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah and his efforts to reconcile these teachings with traditional Jewish philosophy.
More recently, in the 19th century, there was a French Catholic priest named Matthan Somerville, who served as a missionary in China. He is remembered for his contributions to the study of Chinese language and culture, as well as his efforts to promote Christianity in the region.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Matthan. While not a widely popular name, it has been carried by notable figures across various cultures and time periods, each adding to the rich tapestry of its history and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Matthan over time
The chart below shows babies named Matthan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Matthan, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matthan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Matthan 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4757 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Matthan
- 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
Matthan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Matthan in the UK right now?
In 2020, Matthan was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Matthan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Matthan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Matthan?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift" or "gift of God".
How many people are called Matthan in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Matthan across the 3 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.