UK boy's name
Matthews
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Matthews is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Matthews popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4023, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2009 to 2016. 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.
Matthews is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Matthews. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Matthews ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 boys were registered as Matthews.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Matthews as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4023
2016
Births in 2016
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Matthews mean?
The name Matthews is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh." The name first appeared in the Bible as Mathitbyah, a variant spelling of Mattityahu. It later evolved into the Greek form Matthias, from which the English name Matthew is derived.
Matthews is a patronymic version of the name, meaning "son of Matthew." It emerged in the Middle Ages as a way to distinguish individuals by their father's name. This naming convention was particularly common in English-speaking cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Matthews can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. It lists several individuals bearing the name, indicating its usage in medieval England.
Over the centuries, many notable figures have borne the name Matthews. One of the most famous was St. Matthew the Evangelist, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
Another significant figure was Sir Tobie Matthews (1577-1628), an English courtier and diplomat who served as a Secretary of State under King James I. He was known for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot and his efforts to promote religious tolerance.
In the realm of art, Waldo Peirce Matthews (1870-1949) was an American painter and illustrator known for his works depicting Native American subjects. His paintings are held in collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
The name also has a connection to sports, with Walter Ray Matthews (1886-1984), an American baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1908 to 1920. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs team that won the World Series in 1908.
In the field of literature, William Matthews (1942-1997) was an American poet and essayist who served as the editor of the literary journal Poetry East. He was the author of several acclaimed poetry collections, including Rising and Falling and Time & Money.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Matthews throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Matthews over time
The chart below shows babies named Matthews registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Matthews, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matthews by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Matthews 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4023 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Matthews
- 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
Matthews: questions and answers
How popular is the name Matthews in the UK right now?
In 2016, Matthews was ranked #4023 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Matthews most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Matthews in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Matthews?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "gift of God".
How many people are called Matthews in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Matthews across the 2 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.