Máté at a glance
Máté is a currently popular Hungarian masculine given name. In Hungary's 2025 newborn-name data it ranked #9, with 751 registrations. Hungarian form of Matthew, ultimately from Hebrew Mattityahu, traditionally interpreted as “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of God.”
| Name | Máté |
|---|---|
| Gender | Masculine |
| Usage | Hungarian |
| Meaning / family | Hungarian form of Matthew, ultimately from Hebrew Mattityahu, traditionally interpreted as “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of God.” |
| Pronunciation | MAH-tay |
| IPA | /ˈmaː.teː/ |
| 2025 rank | #9 (751 registrations) |
| Name day | September 21 |
Meaning and etymology
Máté is the Hungarian form of Matthew. The name ultimately goes back to Hebrew Mattityahu, a theophoric name traditionally understood as “gift of Yahweh.” Through Greek and Latin forms, the name spread across Christian Europe and developed many local versions, including Hungarian Máté and Mátyás.
Reference note: A name's modern “meaning” is often a summary of its historical root. This page separates well-established linguistic relationships from later symbolic interpretations.
History and use in Hungary
Few current Hungarian names show the long consistency of Máté. It ranked #4 in 2000, then held #2 for an extraordinary stretch through much of the 2000s and 2010s. It was still #2 in 2020, then eased to #6 in 2024 and #9 in 2025. That decline in rank does not make it obscure; 751 boys still received the name in 2025.
The Hungarian context matters because a name can be international in origin while still having a specifically Hungarian spelling, pronunciation, name-day tradition and popularity history. That is why this profile treats Hungarian usage as its own entity rather than copying an English-language baby-name definition.
How to pronounce Máté
Hungarian normally places word stress on the first syllable. Long vowels marked with accents should be held distinctly rather than reduced, and Hungarian consonant letters follow more regular sound values than English spelling does. The approximation above is designed for English speakers; IPA is more precise.
Popularity in Hungary
Máté was registered 751 times in 2025.
Rankings should be read as a time series rather than a permanent label. A name can fall several positions and still be given to hundreds of children in a year. The historical snapshots above make the trend easier to understand than a single “popular” badge.
Hungarian name day
September 21 is associated with Máté in Hungarian name-day references. Name days (névnapok) remain a recognizable part of Hungarian culture, though how strongly people celebrate them varies by family and generation.
When multiple dates are associated with a name, families often celebrate one preferred date rather than every calendar occurrence. Name-day calendars can also differ, so dates are best treated as calendar traditions rather than as government popularity statistics.
Variants and international forms
Variants are useful because they show whether two spellings are true members of the same historical family or merely similar-looking names. This site favors documented linguistic relationships over algorithmic “names you may like” lists.
Related Hungarian names
These recommendations are intended primarily for discovery across the Hungarian-name collection. When a relationship is linguistic, that is stated explicitly; otherwise the connection is stylistic or based on current Hungarian usage.
Frequently asked questions
What does Máté mean?
Hungarian form of Matthew, ultimately from Hebrew Mattityahu, traditionally interpreted as “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of God.”
How do you pronounce Máté in Hungarian?
Approximately MAH-tay. The IPA form used on this page is /ˈmaː.teː/. Hungarian normally stresses the first syllable.
How popular is Máté in Hungary?
In 2025, Máté ranked #9 among newborn boys in Hungary, with 751 registrations.
When is Máté name day?
Hungarian name-day references list September 21 for Máté.
Is Máté used in Hungary?
Yes. Máté is an established masculine given name in Hungary and appears in the 2025 national popularity rankings.
Was Máté more or less popular in 2024?
It ranked #6 in 2024 and #9 in 2025. Rankings measure relative position, not the total number of people living with the name.
Is Máté the Hungarian form of Matthew?
Yes. Máté belongs to the same biblical name family as English Matthew.
How do you pronounce Máté?
Approximately MAH-tay. Both written vowels are long in Hungarian, and stress falls on the first syllable.
Sources and methodology
Popularity, etymology, pronunciation and name-day information are checked as separate claim types. That matters because a government ranking source does not establish a name's medieval etymology, and a historical-name reference does not establish current newborn registrations.
- 2025 Hungarian popularity: Hungary national newborn-name ranking as reproduced from official administrative data in the 2025 Hungary list.
- Etymology and pronunciation: Behind the Name — Máté.
- Name days: Hungarian name-day calendar references; dates are presented as cultural calendar conventions and may vary by source.
Last reviewed August 7, 2026. Current rankings are dated by year. Uncertain etymologies are labeled as uncertain rather than simplified into invented certainty.