Matei

A boy's name with 268 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#5353 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Matei is a boy's baby name of Romanian origin, the Romanian form of Matthew — from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning 'gift of God.' Saint Matthew was one of the twelve apostles and the author of the first Gospel. Matei is one of the most beloved masculine names in Romania.

EtymologyShow more

In the American context, Matei is a boy's name with a focused stretch of recorded use (1996–2024). American naming is uniquely syncretic — it borrows from dozens of traditions, invents freely, and recombines elements in ways that make strict etymological tracing difficult for many names.

Today, Matei is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #5353), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.

At a Glance

268

Total births

Since 1996

2019

Peak

19 births

1996

First recorded

29 years of data

Compare Matei with another name

Popularity Over Time

Matei climbed 4237 spots in the last 20 years — from #9590 to #5353.

First appeared: 1996Peak: 2019 (19 births)Current: #5353

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Matei
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	60	#7730	▼
2010s	120	#7330	▲
2000s	82	#9314	▲
1990s	6	#8617	—

The Story of Matei

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2019, Matei is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Matei are most likely born between 2009 and 2024.

How rare is Matei?

Only about 1 in every 200,000 babies born in 2024 was named Matei — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1996, peaked in the 2010s with 120 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Matei by the numbers

Would fill 6 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(26 years, 1996–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Matei
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	18	#5353	+12 (200.0%)
2023	6	#11740	-6 (-50.0%)
2022	12	#7090	+3 (33.3%)
2021	9	#8591	-6 (-40.0%)
2020	15	#5876	-4 (-21.1%)
2019	19	#5086	+9 (90.0%)
2018	10	#7956	0
2017	10	#7933	-7 (-41.2%)
2016	17	#5460	+6 (54.5%)
2015	11	#7376	-5 (-31.3%)
2014	16	#5630	+5 (45.5%)
2013	11	#7369	+3 (37.5%)
2012	8	#9402	-1 (-11.1%)
2011	9	#8530	0
2010	9	#8556	-4 (-30.8%)
2009	13	#6680	0
2008	13	#6638	+5 (62.5%)
2007	8	#9447	+2 (33.3%)
2006	6	#11560	-6 (-50.0%)
2005	12	#6483	+5 (71.4%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Matei a boy's or girl's name?

Matei is primarily a boy's name.

When was Matei most popular?

Matei reached its peak popularity in 2019 with 19 births that year. It is currently ranked #5353 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Matei?

Matei is currently ranked #5353 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 268 babies since 1996.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By EndingNames in -i TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1996–2024