
The short answer
Matteo is a masculine name that is the Italian form of Matthew. Matthew, per Behind the Name, is the English form of the New Testament Greek Matthaios, the Greek form of Mattithiah, a Hebrew name built from roots meaning "gift" and the divine name Yahweh (behind-name-matthew). Matthew, also called Levi, was one of the twelve apostles and the traditional author of the first Gospel. It is pronounced mah-TAY-oh. In the United States it ranked #146 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name lists Matteo as the "Italian form of Matthew" without a separate gloss. The linked Matthew entry explains Matthew is the English form of Greek Ματθαῖος (Matthaios), itself the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew Mattithiah, from roots meaning "gift" and the divine name Yahweh (behind-name-matthew). Matthew, probably also called Levi, was one of the twelve apostles, a tax collector, and the traditional author of the first Gospel.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew (via Matthew) | mattaṯ + Yahweh | gift of Yahweh |
Popularity
Matteo ranked #146 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #146 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Mattéo, Mattia
Related names: Matthew, Mateo, Mathias
What the name feels like
Matteo is a warm, three-syllable Italian classic, one of the many international forms of Matthew that has become popular in English-speaking countries for its sound.
Style tags: classic, Italian, biblical
Editorial interpretation: This style impression is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Matteo's Matthew-family root or its Romance-language sound.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Matteo mean?
Matteo means "gift of Yahweh" (God). It is the Italian form of Matthew, ultimately from the Hebrew Mattithiah.
Is Matteo a popular name?
Yes. Matteo ranked #146 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Matteo a biblical name?
Yes, indirectly: it is the Italian form of Matthew, one of the twelve apostles and the traditional author of the first Gospel.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Matteo — supports pronunciation, variants.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Matthew — supports etymology, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.