Matthew
Boy name · #32 in 2025 · Uniqueness 41/100
Matthew ranks #32 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 7,003 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #15, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 257 boys born in 2025 was named Matthew.
Babies named Matthew per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Matthew first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 113 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1983, when 50,209 boys were named Matthew — good for #3 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Matthew against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Matthew in class?
Matthew scores 41 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Matthew is most common
Geography matters for names, and Matthew is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Matthews were CA (996), TX (890), FL (658), NY (520), PA (257). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Matthew
Statistically, parents drawn to Matthew tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Andrew, Mathew, Daniel, Anthony, and Joshua.
AndrewMathewDanielAnthonyJoshuaJonathanMichaelAaron
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Matthew | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7,003 | #32 |
| 2024 | 7,107 | #33 |
| 2023 | 7,234 | #32 |
| 2022 | 7,077 | #39 |
| 2021 | 7,489 | #36 |
| 2020 | 8,142 | #30 |
| 2019 | 9,277 | #23 |
| 2018 | 10,009 | #20 |
| 2017 | 11,732 | #16 |
| 2016 | 12,665 | #15 |
| 2015 | 12,785 | #15 |
| 2014 | 12,944 | #16 |
| 2013 | 13,364 | #15 |
| 2012 | 13,993 | #12 |
| 2011 | 14,184 | #12 |
| 2010 | 14,148 | #16 |
| 2009 | 16,010 | #13 |
| 2008 | 17,604 | #10 |
| 2007 | 18,756 | #9 |
| 2006 | 20,339 | #5 |
| 2005 | 21,483 | #4 |
| 2004 | 22,882 | #4 |
| 2003 | 24,011 | #4 |
| 2002 | 25,154 | #4 |
| 2001 | 26,812 | #3 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Matthew a popular boy name?
Matthew ranked #32 among boys in 2025 with 7,003 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #15.
When was the name Matthew most popular?
Matthew peaked in 1983, when 50,209 American boys received the name (ranked #3 that year). Since 1983 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Matthew?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 257 newborn American boys was named Matthew. It scores 41/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.