What Does the Name Matteus Mean?
Like every form of Matthew, Matteus means "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God." It descends from the Hebrew Mattityahu, which the Greek New Testament rendered as Matthaios -- the same root behind Matthew, Mateo, Matias, and dozens of other forms across Europe.
The Origin & History of Matteus
Matteus is specifically the spelling used in Swedish, Norwegian, and Portuguese, where the Greek "-aios" ending softened into "-eus." The apostle and evangelist Matthew -- a tax collector called by Jesus and traditionally credited with the first Gospel -- is the reason the name has been in continuous use across Christian Europe for two thousand years.
Cultural Reach
In Brazil and Portugal the spelling Matteus (alongside the far more common Mateus) shows up among footballers and everyday given names alike; in Scandinavia it's a less common alternative to the standard Mattias.
Personality & Traits
Matteus reads as warm and slightly old-world next to the clipped Matt or Max -- parents drawn to it tend to want a classic biblical name with a continental spelling rather than the plain English Matthew.
Notable Namesakes
Matteus is a Brazilian professional footballer who has played as a defensive midfielder for clubs in Brazil's top divisions, one of several Brazilian players who use the single name Matteus professionally.
Popularity as a Given Name
Still rare in the US but climbing -- 10 boys were named Matteus in 2024, double the 5 recorded in 2023.