Matthew \m(a)-tthew\ as a boy's name is pronounced MATH-yoo. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Matthew is "gift of God". Biblical: the name of one of the twelve apostles, who wrote the first Gospel account of the life of Jesus. His name is a form of the Hebrew name Mattathia. The alternate spelling Mathew is an English surname variant spelling. Mateo is a Spanish form; Matteo is Italian; Mateus is Portuguese. Mathieu and Matthieu are French forms. Actors Matthew Broderick, Matthew Modine, Matthew Perry, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Leblanc, Matt Damon; photographer Mathew Brady; poet Matthew Arnold; tennis celebrity Mats Wilander.

Matthew has 33 variant forms: Madteo, Madteos, Madtheos, Mat, Mata, Mateo, Mateus, Mateusz, Mathe, Matheu, Mathew, Mathian, Mathias, Mathieu, Matias, Matico, Mats, Matt, Mattaeus, Mattaus, Matteo, Matthaus, Mattheus, Matthias, Matthieu, Matthiew, Mattias, Mattie, Mattieu, Matty, Matvey, Matyas and Matz.

For more information, see also related names Mace and Mayhew.