Fun Facts About the Name Matius
- 10 babies named Matius: U.S. records list 10 babies given the name Matius from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Matius Mean?
Matius is the Indonesian and Malay form of the apostle Matthew's name, and it carries the same meaning: "gift of Yahweh." The meaning comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), formed from mattan or mattat, "gift," and Yah, a shortened form of the divine name YHWH. The customary English rendering "gift of God" keeps the general sense, but the Hebrew second element refers specifically to the God of Israel by name rather than to a generic word for deity.
The Hebrew name entered Greek as Maththaios (Μαθθαῖος) and Matthaios (Ματθαῖος), and Greek in turn gave Latin Matthaeus. Matius belongs to that line: it keeps the initial Mat- but drops the doubled consonant and replaces the Latin -aeus ending with -ius, giving the form its Latin-looking shape in Malay and Indonesian spelling.
The identical-looking Roman family name Matius, borne by members of the gens Matia, is a separate name. Its origin is not clearly connected to the Hebrew name of Matthew, and it is usually treated as an old Italian name of uncertain derivation.
Matius Name History & Origins
Matius is the traditional form of Matthew's name in Malay and Indonesian, the name by which the apostle is known in Indonesian Bibles, where the first Gospel is titled Injil Matius. It is used as a given name in Indonesia and Malaysia, especially in Christian communities, and it appears in the standard modern Indonesian translation as well as in earlier Malay Scripture texts.
The name reaches Malay and Indonesian through the broader European transmission of the apostle's name: Hebrew Mattityahu, Greek Maththaios/Matthaios, Latin Matthaeus, and then the vernacular forms of the mission-era European languages - Portuguese Mateus, Dutch Mattheüs and Matteüs, and related spellings. Matius fits this Latin-based pattern, with the medial consonants simplified and the ending reshaped to -ius, and the spelling was carried into modern Indonesian usage by Bible translation and church tradition in the region.
A separate, older use of Matius belongs to Roman history. Gaius Matius was a Roman knight of the first century BC, a friend of both Julius Caesar and Cicero, and a writer on horticulture whose agricultural work was later cited by Roman authors. That name belongs to a Roman family line and is not part of the history of the biblical name. Similar-sounding modern names such as Matthias and Matias descend from a different Greek form, Maththias, though they share the same Hebrew root.
How Popular is the Name Matius?
Matius has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #13,237 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,237 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #13,634 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Matius Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Matius's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Matius's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.