Mattea
A feminine given name of Aramaic origin meaning "gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 1,797 living Americans carry the first name Mattea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mattea today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mattea births was 2006 (108 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mattea. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
1.8K
~ 1 in 190,737 Americans
Peak year
2006
108 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,968
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Mattea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mattea from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 745 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mattea by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mattea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Matteas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. California, Minnesota, New York recorded the most babies named Mattea, while Ohio, New Jersey, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mattea
The name Mattea originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is a feminine form of the name Matthew, which derives from the Hebrew name "Mattityahu," meaning "gift of God."
In the Bible, the name Matthew is found in the New Testament, referring to one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, also known as Levi the tax collector. This association with a figure of significance in Christianity likely contributed to the popularity of the name and its variations throughout history.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Mattea can be traced back to the Middle Ages, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe. During this period, names with biblical or religious connections were common, reflecting the influence of the Christian faith on naming traditions.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Mattea was Mattea di Canossa, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 11th century. She was the wife of Guelfo IV, Duke of Bavaria, and played a influential role in the political affairs of her time.
In the 16th century, Mattea Beccaria, an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist, was known for her charitable works and contributions to the betterment of society in the city of Pavia.
Another notable figure was Mattea Loreta, an Italian painter and engraver who lived during the 17th century. Her artistic works were celebrated for their intricate details and depictions of religious themes.
In the realm of literature, Mattea Enderlin was a German author and poet who lived in the 19th century. She is remembered for her contributions to the Romantic literary movement and her evocative poetry.
Lastly, Mattea Battistini was an Italian operatic soprano who achieved international acclaim in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her performances in various operas, particularly those of Verdi and Puccini, earned her widespread recognition and admiration.
These historical figures, spanning different eras and disciplines, illustrate the rich heritage and enduring presence of the name Mattea throughout the centuries, reflecting its deep roots in ancient languages and cultural traditions.
People
Mattea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mattea as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mattea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mattea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,797 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mattea going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 190,737 US residents.
Is Mattea a common name?
We classify Mattea as "Rare". It ranks above 93.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,833 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mattea most popular?
The single biggest year for Mattea was 2006, when 108 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mattea is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mattea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mattea in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.