Matias is a given name used primarily in Finnish and Portuguese, serving as a form of Matthias, which itself is a variant of the name Matthew. The name ultimately derives from the Hebrew Mattityahu (מתיתיהו), meaning “gift of God.” In the New Testament, Matthias is the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, a detail rooted in the Christian tradition. Etymology and Origin Matias traces its roots through Greek and Hebrew. The original Hebrew name Mattityahu splits into mattan (gift) and Yah (abbreviation of Yahweh). Its Greek form is Ματθίας (Matthias), a variant of Ματθαῖος (Matthaios), and it arrived in Latin as Matthias. In Finnish and Portuguese, the name evolved into Matias. Usage and Distribution Matias is widespread in Latin America, particularly in Argentina, and is also common in Nordic countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. In Finland, it appears alongside variant spellings Matti, Mattias, Mathias, Mats, and Matias. By the end of 2009, about 73,160 Finns bore the name Matias, while 3,683 had Mattias and nearly 3,000 had Mathias (Finnish population register). The name also crosses into German-speaking Europe, though the form Matthias is more typical there. Notable Bearers Famous individuals include Portuguese philosopher Matias Aires (1705–1763) and German-Chilean record producer Matias Aguayo (born 1973). King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary (15th century), though rendered as Mátyás, parallels the regal connotation of the name. Cultural Significance In Finland, the name is honored in the Finnish-Swedish calendar, though the official day of name was shifted to various Mattias forms after 1989, maintaining a centuries-old tradition. Because it shares meaning with Matthew (“gift of God”), it carries intrinsically positive, religiously derived associations across Christian communities. Meaning: gift of God (Hebrew Mattityahu) Origin: Hebrew → Greek → Latin Type: first name, masculine Usages: Finnish, Portuguese, Scandinavian