Matthias

Matthias is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Mattithyahu, meaning "gift of Yahweh" or "gift of God." It is used in many European languages, especially in German- and Nordic-speaking areas, and has variants such as Mathias and Mattias.

In Christian tradition, Saint Matthias the Apostle is the earliest well-known bearer; after Judas Iscariot's betrayal, Matthias was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles to replace him. The name has since been common in Christian Europe and spread to other languages.

Notable bearers include Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary (r. 1458–1490); Matthias Grünewald, German Renaissance painter; Matthias Claudius, German poet; and Matthias Jakob Schleiden, German botanist and co-founder of cell theory. Today, Matthias remains a common given name in German-speaking regions and elsewhere in Europe.