Matei
Say it: ma-TAY
BoyMeans a form of Matthew, which means "gift of God"5 letters2 syllables
#262
in Ireland (2025)
#255 with spellings combined
17
babies in 2025
#203
best rank (2020)
224
babies since 2007
Up 121
10-year rank change
Matei through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #255 |
| 2024 | 9 | #379 |
| 2023 | 15 | #280 |
| 2022 | 15 | #285 |
| 2021 | 24 | #209 |
| 2020 | 24 | #203 |
| 2019 | 20 | #235 |
| 2018 | 20 | #245 |
| 2017 | 25 | #220 |
| 2016 | 15 | #298 |
| 2015 | 10 | #376 |
| 2014 | 11 | #364 |
| 2013 | 7 | #448 |
| 2011 | 5 | #540 |
| 2009 | 4 | #604 |
| 2007 | 3 | #629 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Matei mean?
A form of Matthew, which means "gift of God"
Romanian, from Matthias, the same name as Matthew.
Say it right
maTAY
The story of Matei
Matei is the Romanian form of Matthias, which makes it a cousin of the English Matthew. Both go back to a Hebrew name usually explained as “gift of God”. In Romania it is a well-established name, and it is also used as a surname.
Its best-known historical bearer is Matei Basarab, who ruled Wallachia, one of the lands that later formed Romania, from 1632 to 1654. The playwright Matei Visniec and the computer scientist Matei Zaharia carry it today.
In Ireland Matei first reached three babies a year in 2007, and its use has grown alongside Ireland’s Romanian community. Its biggest year was 2017, with 25 boys, and its best rank was number 203 in 2020. In 2025, 17 boys were named Matei. It is much rarer in Northern Ireland, where it has only appeared in the records since 2016.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Matei
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Matei | 17 | 224 |
In Northern Ireland
#344 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #211 (2021); 18 babies since 2016.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.