Matiaha as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Matiaha

What is the meaning of the name Matiaha ?

The baby name Matiaha is a Male name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced mah-tee-AH-hah (Māori pronunciation), IPA: /ma.ti.ˈa.ha/.

Matiaha is in Origin.

Matiaha is a Māori given name with roots in biblical naming. It likely reflects a 19th‑century Māori transliteration of the Hebrew Mattityahu/Mattithiah, the source of Matthew and Matthias, introduced through early Christian missions. The underlying Hebrew elements mattan “gift” + Yahu “the divine name” yield the meaning “gift of God” or “gift of Yahweh.”

The name appears in historical records among Māori leaders and clergymen; notable bearers include Te Matiaha Tiramōrehu (Ngāi Tahu scholar, d. 1860s) and the Rev. Matiaha Pahewa of Ngāti Porou. Spelling varies between Matiaha and Mātiaha (with macron marking a long vowel). Related forms and cognates include Matthias, Matthew, Mattathiah, and Polynesian adaptations such as Matiu (Māori Matthew) and Mataio (Samoan/Tongan Matthew); short forms like Mati also occur informally. Traditionally masculine, it can function as a distinctive heritage name today while retaining its biblical resonance.

⚙ Matiaha does not appear in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. This usually means it's either extremely rare, a regional/traditional name not captured by official statistics, or a brand-new coinage. Use it knowing your child will almost certainly be the only one in the room.