Matthew is a name of English origin that has been popular throughout history. It was initially introduced to England by the Normans after they conquered the country in the 11th century.
The name Matthew comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of God." This name was borne by one of the twelve apostles in the New Testament of the Bible, Saint Matthew. He was also known as Levi and was a tax collector before becoming an apostle.
Matthew has been a popular name throughout history. It was used by several kings of Scotland, including King James I, who ruled from 1406 to 1437. The name has also been borne by many famous people throughout history, such as the philosopher Matthew Arnold and the explorer Matthew Flinders.
Today, Matthew remains a popular choice for parents naming their sons. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it was one of the top 20 most popular boy names in recent years. The name is also used around the world, including in countries such as Canada, Australia, and France.
In terms of its meaning, Matthew continues to be associated with the idea of being a gift from God. This can make it a meaningful choice for parents looking for a name that has a positive and spiritual connotation. Additionally, the name's association with Saint Matthew may give it an air of timelessness and tradition.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Mattheu in the United States between 1969 and 2011. During this period, there was a total of 118 births.
The highest number of births occurred in 1988, with 10 babies named Mattheu born that year. This trend continued into the late 1990s and early 2000s, with peaks in births occurring in 1999 (10 births), 2000 (7 births), 2001 (9 births), and 2003 (7 births).
However, it's interesting to note that the number of births with the name Mattheu has been steadily declining since the mid-2000s. In fact, there were only 6 births in both 2005 and 2006, and only 7 births in 2011.
Overall, while Mattheu was a popular boy's name during the late 1980s to early 2000s, it appears that its popularity has waned in recent years. Despite this decline, Mattheu still remains a distinctive and unique name with a total of 118 births recorded over the span of four decades in the United States.