Mathias
muh-THEYE-uhs
Mathias is a variant of Matthias, itself the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning “gift of Yahweh.” The biblical Matthias was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot as the 12th apostle, as recorded in Acts 1:26.
The single-t spelling Mathias reflects Scandinavian, German, and French orthographic traditions.
In Scandinavia, Mathias has been a consistently popular choice for centuries, ranking among the top 20 boys’ names in Denmark and Norway through much of the 2000s.
What the name Mathias means
The name shares its root with Matthew, Matteo, and Mateo, all descendants of the same Hebrew compound meaning “gift” (mattan) and “God” (Yah).
The American trajectory of Mathias shows marked recent growth. In 2015, the name ranked at No. 337 with 509 births. By 2024, it had climbed to No.
337 with 1,031 births, representing its all-time peak on the SSA charts. That trajectory - nearly doubling in usage over 9 years - suggests the name is still gaining momentum.
European usage patterns vary by spelling. France and Belgium favor Mathias with one t, while Germany and Austria more commonly use Matthias.
In Portuguese-speaking countries, Matias (no th) is the standard form. All variants share the same pronunciation emphasis on the second syllable.
The Reformation period saw widespread adoption of Matthias/Mathias across Protestant Northern Europe, where biblical names held particular cultural weight.
Notable historical bearers include German painter Matthias Grünewald (c. 1470-1528) and Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus (1443-1490).
Mathias offers parents a recognizable biblical name with a distinctly European character, positioned between the ubiquity of Matthew and the trendiness of Mateo.
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 Mathias
Mathias - similar names
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