Mathew in Chinese
Mathew in Chinese is 马修 (Mǎ Xiū).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- gift of God
The name traces back to Hebrew sources, where it is usually explained as "gift of God". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1980s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Matthew, which share the transliteration 马修.
3 ways to write Mathew
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
马修
Mǎ Xiū
The standard transliteration of Mathew: 马 (mǎ, "horse"), 修 (xiū, "to cultivate; slender"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 马 (mǎ) carries "ma", 修 (xiū) carries "thew". The tone contour is 3-1 (dipping, high level).
Character breakdown
13 strokes total (simplified)- 马
mǎ
Tone 3 · 3 strokes (simplified)
horse
- 修
xiū
Tone 1 · 10 strokes (simplified)
to cultivate; slender
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
乐轩
Lè Xuān
Inspired by "gift of God": 乐 (lè, "joy, happiness; music") + 轩 (xuān, "lofty; carriage with canopy"), expressing love, joy and blessings.
Why these characters?
乐 (joy, happiness; music) answers the "gift" in Mathew's meaning, and 轩 (lofty; carriage with canopy) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 乐
lè
Tone 4 · 5 strokes (simplified)
joy, happiness; music
- 轩
xuān
Tone 1 · 7 strokes (simplified)
lofty; carriage with canopy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
马喜
Mǎ Xǐ
马 (mǎ, "horse") + 喜 (xǐ, "happiness, joy"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 马 (mǎ), the same opening character as the transliteration 马修, for the "ma" sound, and replaces the rest with 喜 ("happiness, joy") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 马
mǎ
Tone 3 · 3 strokes (simplified)
horse
- 喜
xǐ
Tone 3 · 12 strokes (simplified)
happiness, joy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 74,971 boys named Mathew since 1880, with the high point in 1990 (2,174 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #148 to #551 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1990
- Peak decade
- 1980s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 74,971
More About Mathew in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Mathew offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Mathew, you'll find options that work for you.
Mathew is also spelled Matthew — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
Names with the same root meaning include Jonathan in Chinese, Nathaniel in Chinese, Johnathan in Chinese, Theodore in Chinese, and Jonathon in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Matthew in Chinese, Jonathan in Chinese, and Nathaniel in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Johnathan in Chinese, Theodore in Chinese, Jonathon in Chinese, Rafael in Chinese, and Conner in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Mathew, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Mathew to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mathew in Chinese characters?
马修 (Mǎ Xiū), or 馬修 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Mathew?
US Social Security records show 74,971 boys named Mathew since 1880, with the high point in 1990 (2,174 births) and the busiest decade being the 1980s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #148 to #551 among boys.
Do Mathew and Matthew have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 马修, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.