Romanian and Slavic form of Matthew, from Hebrew meaning gift of God.
Matei is the Romanian and Slavic adaptation of Matthew, tracing its lineage directly to the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which translates to "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God." This ancient Semitic root entered Greek as Matthaios, then Latin as Matthaeus, and as Christianity spread across Europe, each language community shaped the name to fit its own phonological landscape. In Romania and parts of the broader Orthodox Christian world, Matei became the beloved vernacular form — carrying all the theological weight of the original while sounding unmistakably of the Carpathian region.
The name's most celebrated bearer is, of course, Saint Matthew the Evangelist, the tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles and is credited with the first Gospel. In Romanian history, the name carries additional luster through Matei Basarab, the 17th-century ruler of Wallachia who reigned from 1632 to 1654 and presided over a golden age of religious art and monastic building. His long, stable rule left an indelible mark on Romanian Orthodox culture, and his name remained a marker of noble heritage for generations.
In contemporary usage, Matei has gained a quiet international following beyond its Romanian and Moldovan homelands. Parents drawn to the name often appreciate that it sounds polished and distinctly European without being difficult for English speakers to pronounce. It occupies a charming middle ground — deeply historical, carrying two millennia of Christian and Eastern European cultural resonance, yet feeling fresh and unhurried to modern ears. It is a name with roots as old as scripture and a sound entirely suited to today.