Mateo
mah-TAY-oh
Mateo is the Spanish form of Matthew, from Hebrew מתתיה (Mattityahu): “matan” (gift) and “Yahu” (Yahweh), meaning “gift of God.”
In the New Testament, Matthew is 1 of the 12 apostles and the attributed author of the first Gospel. Saint Matthew is patron of accountants and tax collectors, from his occupation as a publican described in Matthew 9:9.
The form Mateo was used across the Spanish-speaking world from the medieval period, appearing in ecclesiastical records of Spain and its American colonies.
What the name Mateo means
In the United States, Mateo remained largely uncommon among non-Hispanic families until the 21st century.
Hispanic cultural influence on mainstream naming accelerated after 2000. Mateo entered the U.S. top 100 around 2012, reached the top 20 by 2019, and broke into the top 10 by 2021, 1 of the fastest climbs of the decade.
Mateo peaked at No. 6 in 2023 with 11,279 births and held No. 7 in 2024 with 11,302.
The name’s 3 open syllables and stress on the second give it a melodic, accessible quality.
The Italian form Matteo is separately charted and similarly popular across Italy and among Italian-heritage families globally, underscoring the Mediterranean variant’s broad appeal over the traditional English Matthew.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Mateo
Mateo - similar names
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Ways to spell Mateo
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Matthew | English |
| Mathieu | French |
| Matthias | German/Greek |
| Matteo | Italian |
| Mateusz | Polish |
| Mateus | Portuguese |
| Matvei | Russian |
| Mattias | Swedish |