Meaning & History
Matthaios is the Greek form of Matthew, used in the Greek New Testament. It derives from the Hebrew name Mattithiah, meaning "gift of Yahweh." In the New Testament, Matthew (also called Levi) was one of the twelve apostles, a tax collector who became a saint and is traditionally credited with writing the first Gospel. The Greek form Matthaios appears in the Koine Greek of the Gospels, while a separate variant, Matthias, also appears in the New Testament as the name of the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. In modern Greek, the name is more accurately transcribed Mattheos.
Notable Bearers
- Matthaios Kamariotis (died 1490), Greek scholar of the Renaissance.
- Matthaios Kofidis (1855–1921), Greek businessman and member of the Ottoman parliament.
- Matthaios Paranikas (1832–1914), Greek scholar and researcher.
- Matthaios Tsahouridis (born 1978), Greek composer and musician.
Cultural Significance
As the New Testament Greek form, Matthaios has historically been important in Greek Orthodox tradition. The name is still used in Greece today, alongside other Greek forms such as Mattheos and Mattathias (the latter from the Greek Septuagint). Linguistically, the prevalence of the name across Eastern Christianity reflects the influence of the biblical apostle.
- Meaning: Gift of Yahweh
- Origin: Greek, Hebrew
- Type: Biblical given name
- Usage: Greek, Greek Orthodox contexts
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Matthaios