Matt
Matt is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Gift of God.
Origin and history
Matt is a short form of Matthew, originating from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of Yahweh'. It gained massive popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century as a casual, friendly alternative to the full name. While less common as an official birth name today, it remains a ubiquitous staple in American culture.
Popularity in the United States
23,887 babies in the United States have been named Matt since 1880. It ranks #764 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1698.
States where it is most popular
- CA (17.5 %)
- TX (9.2 %)
- IL (6.4 %)
- OH (6.1 %)
- MI (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 368 |
| 1890-1900 | 257 |
| 1900-1910 | 252 |
| 1910-1920 | 838 |
| 1920-1930 | 848 |
| 1930-1940 | 587 |
| 1940-1950 | 697 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,513 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,226 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,564 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,750 |
| 1990-2000 | 672 |
| 2000-2010 | 558 |
| 2010-2019 | 528 |
| 2020-2029 | 229 |
Famous people named Matt
- Matt Damon: Actor, Screenwriter
- Matt LeBlanc: Actor
- Matt Groening: Animator, Producer
Fun facts
- Matt originated as a medieval diminutive of Matthew and became popular as a standalone given name in the 20th century.
- The name Matt gained immense popularity in television and media during the late 20th century.