Mattathiah as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mattathiah

What is the meaning of the name Mattathiah ?

The baby name Mattathiah is a Male name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced mat-uh-THY-uh (IPA: /ˌmætəˈθaɪə/); Hebrew: ma-ti-TYAH-hu (IPA: /matitˈjahu/).

Mattathiah is Hebrew in Origin.

From Hebrew Mattityahu (מַתִּתְיָהוּ), Mattathiah means “gift of Yahweh,” combining mattan (“gift”) with the theophoric -yahu. The name appears several times in the Hebrew Bible, especially among Levites and temple musicians (often rendered Mattithiah in English translations). Through Greek and Latin transmission, the closely related form Mattathias became famous as the priest who sparked the Maccabean revolt, further cementing the name’s association with piety and dedication.

Variant forms include Mattithiah, Mattityahu (modern Hebrew), Mattathias, Matthias, and Matthew; parallels appear as Matatías (Spanish), Matatias (Portuguese), and Matatia (Italian). Diminutives range from Matt to Mati/Matty. While Mattathiah itself is rare in contemporary English, its relatives - especially Matthew and Matthias - are widely used. In Jewish communities and in Israel, Matityahu sees periodic revival, with the name evoking devotion, gratitude, and a storied heritage reaching from the Temple singers to the Hasmonean era.

⚙ Nothing for Mattathiah shows up in the birth registries or name datasets we track. Names like this are usually very rare, tied to a particular region or tradition, or freshly invented. However you look at it, very few people share it.