Matthew … its meaning is "gift of the Lord" - Think Baby Names

The baby name Matthew is of Hebrew origin. Matthew was one of the twelve disciples, and he wrote one of the Gospels. Matthew was a tax collector before becoming a disciple, so he includes the most references to parables related to money as compared to the other gospels.

In the United States, the baby name Matthew has not dropped below #209 since 1880. (The baby name ranked #209 in 1931.) The baby name broke into the Top 100 in 1956 and jumped into the Top 10 in 1972, where it has remained ever since. The baby name Matthew peaked at #2 in 1995 and 1996, and it dropped down to #9 in 2007. See Popular Baby Names.

In addition to being popular in the United States, the baby name Matthew has ranked in the Top 30 in the following countries for the past decade:

• Australia
• Canada
• England
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales

The baby name is most popular in Canada, ranking in the Top 10. See Think Baby Names.

The most common nicknames for the baby name Matthew are Matt and Matty. The baby name is a particularly good choice for Christian families who see their adopted child as a “gift from the Lord.”

Quite a few famous actors share the baby Matthew, including Matthew Broderick, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Perry, Matt Damon, and Matt LeBlanc. My son’s friend, Matthew, will likely join the ranks of famous Matthews when he is grown, so be sure to check back in about 20 years.

Adoption Under One Roof has researched many baby names for you and continues to add more baby names to the list each week. Click here to see a list of baby names that Adoption Under One Roof has covered on its site, including links to more information about each baby name. The baby names are divided by topic and gender. Some baby names might fall under more than one topic. All baby names that Adoption Under One Roof has discussed are also provided in alphabetical order so you can search for a name easily.

This list of baby names is updated frequently as more baby names are added to the site. Whether you are looking for a baby name that holds an adoption meaning or simply a baby name that sounds pretty, you can find it here.

Photo credit: Lynda Bernhardt