UK boy's name
Matthew
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Matthew is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Matthew popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #149, with 355 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 7,443 births.
This profile covers 80,931 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 100,509 living people in the UK are called Matthew. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Matthew ranked #149 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 355 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 7,443 boys were registered as Matthew.
- • Matthew ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2007.
- • About 100,509 living people in the UK are estimated to have Matthew as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#149
2024
Births in 2024
355
Latest year
Peak year
1997
7,443 births
Estimated living
100,509
2026
Meaning
What does Matthew mean?
The name Matthew is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh" or "gift from God". It is a biblical name that has its roots in ancient Judaic culture and tradition.
The earliest known use of the name Matthew can be traced back to the New Testament of the Bible, where it was the name given to one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector before becoming a disciple and is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew.
Throughout the centuries, the name Matthew has been popular among Christians, particularly in Western cultures. It was one of the most common names given to boys during the Middle Ages in Europe, and its popularity continued to rise during the Renaissance and the Reformation periods.
One of the most notable historical figures named Matthew was Matthew Paris, an English Benedictine monk and chronicler who lived from around 1200 to 1259. He was known for his detailed and influential chronicles of English history, which provided valuable insights into the events and personalities of his time.
Another significant figure named Matthew was Matthew Boulton, an English manufacturer and entrepreneur who lived from 1728 to 1809. He played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution, partnering with James Watt to develop and manufacture steam engines, which revolutionized industry and transportation.
In the realm of literature, Matthew Arnold, an English poet and cultural critic born in 1822, was a prominent figure. His works, including "Dover Beach" and "The Study of Poetry," had a profound impact on Victorian literature and literary criticism.
Matthew Broderick, an American actor born in 1962, is also a well-known bearer of the name. He rose to fame in the 1980s with his roles in films such as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "War Games," and has since enjoyed a successful career in both film and theater.
Lastly, Matthew McConaughey, born in 1969, is a renowned American actor who has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for his performance in the film "Dallas Buyers Club". He has become a household name and has been celebrated for his versatility and charm on screen.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Matthew over time
The chart below shows babies named Matthew registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Matthew, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 355 births in 2024, compared with 7,443 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matthew by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Matthew 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 | #128 | 2,182 | 5 |
| 2010s | #58 | 12,507 | 10 |
| 2000s | #18 | 38,050 | 10 |
| 1990s | #6 | 28,192 | 4 |
Geography
Where Matthew is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Matthew. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Matthew ranks best in North East in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #1 in 2007.
Across the UK
Matthew in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#73 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 14,393 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#42 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 6,242 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Matthew
-
Matthew Rea
rugby union player
Irish rugby union player
1993-
-
Matthew Wildie
rugby league player
British rugby league player
1990-
-
Matthew Lund
association football player
Northern Irish association football player
1990-
-
Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn
military personnel
Scottish military officer (1870–1913); recipient of the Victoria Cross
1870-1913
-
Matthew Wood
cricketer
British cricketer (1857-1908)
1857-1908
-
Matthew Dudley
politician
M.P.
1661-1721
Related
Names similar to Matthew
- 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
- Milo 9,555
FAQ
Matthew: questions and answers
How popular is the name Matthew in the UK right now?
In 2024, Matthew was ranked #149 for boys in England and Wales, with 355 births registered.
When was Matthew most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 7,443 babies registered as Matthew in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Matthew?
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of God".
How many people are called Matthew in the UK?
A total of 80,931 babies have been registered as Matthew across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 14,393 more in Scotland and 6,242 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Matthew most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Matthew ranks best in North East, where it placed #1 in 2007. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.