Fun Facts About the Name Mato
- 83 babies named Mato: U.S. records list 83 babies given the name Mato from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Mato Mean?
Mato is chiefly a South Slavic given name, a short and familiar form of Croatian Mate and Slovak Matej, both of which are forms of Matthew. Through that line it goes back to the Hebrew name Mattityahu (מתתיהו), commonly explained as "gift of Yahweh," from mattan ("gift") and the shortened divine name Yah. The usual English rendering of that meaning is "gift of God."
Separately, matȟó is the word for "bear" in Lakota and the closely related Siouan languages of the northern Plains, where it serves as an element in personal names. This is an independent origin with a different meaning; it has no connection to Matthew or to the Slavic name.
Mato Name History & Origins
The name behind Mato entered Slavic usage with the spread of Christianity, since Matthew was credited with the first Gospel. Greek Maththaios and Latin Matthaeus were adapted differently from region to region, giving Czech and Slovak Matej, Polish Mateusz, Slovene and Croatian Matija, and Croatian Mate. Croatian Mato is a familiar form of Mate, formed with the short masculine ending in -o that is common in Croatian names (as in Ivo from Ivan and Jozo from Josip).
Mato is used as a given name mainly in Croatia and among Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Mate and its shortened forms are traditional, particularly in Dalmatia and Herzegovina. It also occurs as a surname. In Slovak, Maťo, spelled with the soft ť, is a familiar form of Matej. Because these Slavic short forms are informal, they often appear alongside the fuller baptismal name rather than replacing it.
In the Siouan-speaking communities of the Plains, the bear word was used in naming: the Mandan head chief Mato-Tope, known in English as Four Bears, was recorded under that name by Euro-American visitors in the 1830s. The element also appears in Lakota personal names, where matȟó (bear) is combined with other words.
How Popular is the Name Mato?
Mato 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 2007. Its best rank was #8,577 in 2016.
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 | #8,676 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #9,525 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #11,644 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #11,497 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,428 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #13,567 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #8,577 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #11,642 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,566 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #13,788 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #8,667 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #12,088 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,702 | 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 Mato 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.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Mato's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Mato's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.