Given name & surname
Matt
“gift of God”·“a gift from God”
In English use, Matt is a diminutive of Matthew. Interpretations include “gift of God” (Hebrew) and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Matt is a diminutive of Matthew. Interpretations include “gift of God” (Hebrew) and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Matt is a diminutive of Matthew. An origin associated with Matthew is Hebrew. In English use, Matt is a diminutive of Matthias. Matthias has been associated with Hebrew and Aramaic naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Matt is a diminutive of Matthew. In English usage, Matt is a diminutive of Matthias.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Matt through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 23,892
- 23,887 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 975 babies
- 2025
- 29
- #3,818 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −23%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 29 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,818 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 22.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 975 in 1959. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 110,480 as a first name in 2020; 3,931 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Matt’s family of names
In English usage, Matt is a diminutive of Matthew. In English usage, Matt shares a linguistic root with the Finnish form Matti. In English usage, Matt has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form Maciej.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Matt has relatives in 6 languages.
11 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Matteoequivalent
- MateuszPolish
- Matticognate · Finnish
- Matsequivalent
- MaciejPolish
- Thijsequivalent · Dutch
- מתיequivalent
- Мэттborrowing · Russian
Show 2 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Matt
- Matt DamonAmerican actor (born 1970)
- Matt LeBlancAmerican actorborn 1967
- Matt GroeningAmerican cartoonist (born 1954)
- Matt DillonAmerican actorborn 1964
- Matt SmithEnglish actor (born 1982)
- Matt BellamyEnglish singer-songwriter, member of Museborn 1978
- Matt StoneAmerican actor, animator and filmmaker (born 1971)
- Matt BomerAmerican actorborn 1977
- Matt BusbyScottish football player and manager (1909-1994)
Characters named Matt: Matt Murdock (the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Matt Ishida (Digimon), Matt Helm (fictional character created by author Donald Hamilton), Matt Donovan (The Vampire Diaries).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Matt, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Greg
“watchful” · “one who is vigilant; watch-”
>99% boys
Bob
“one who is bright with fame”
>99% boys
Larry
“man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel” · “a tomboyish woman”
>99% boys
Mike
“who is like God?”
>99% boys
Jonathan
“God has given” · “a gift of God”
>99% boys
Rusty
“a red-haired woman; a fiery woman” · “one who has red hair or a ruddy complexion”
98% boys · 2% girls
Dee
“woman of sorrow; refers to the Virgin Mary”
>99% boys
Jon
“God has given” · “a gift of God”
>99% boys