A soft and sweet boy name that is white hot and more popular than you may expect, Mateo could be the perfectly adorable alternative to Matthew that you’ve been yearning for. His Spanish origin and -o ending sound initially glorious. But is his raging popularity ruining him and weakening his previously rich appeal? Or does Mateo have more than enough spark and spunk to keep him in the running for many baby boys to come? Today, I’m taking a little peek at the ins and outs of Mateo, analyzing this high-climber boy name for his flaws and strengths, and hopefully reaching a definitive conclusion about where he’ll go in popularity at the bottom. Now what was I going to do? Right, the article!
Pros
Firstly, Mateo is a name that, while very popular and trendy at the moment, also has roots and history extending far beyond just the past couple decades of his popularity. He’s a sweetly Italian appellation, having a very Spanish sound and style. Matteo or Mateo, both spellings elegant and handsome, both make a wonderful choice to honor your heritage without causing your son too much annoyance or sticking out when he’s a bit older (although this doesn’t happen to everyone; some children will love a name that very boldly reflects their heritage!). Mateo is one of the many adaptations of the biblical boy name Matthew, and therefore has the same meaning of “gift of god,” a sweet and potentially positive meaning for many families. As for Matteo, he’s actually an Italian variation that’s less popular than the slimmer Mateo, but has the same meaning and origin story as a variant of Matthew, an equally lovely and possibly more complete looking spelling of Mateo. And, of course, the Spanish/Italian sound comes with a glorious -o ending, soft and appealing with a touch of ruggedness. I’m sure you’ve heard me say it in a billion different articles, but the -o is really what makes all the difference. His ending adds a layer of trendy potential, which he’s already taken in stride, and stylistic appeal for many hundreds of parents worldwide who are planning on adding a little boy to their growing family. And on top of the incredibly trendy -o ending that Mateo has managed to snag, he also offers an update, honor, or trendy alternative to traditional favorite Matthew. A win-win for sure. Whether you love Matthew but fear he’s becoming old news, want to honor your brother Matthew but don’t necessarily want something as monumental as an exact replica or something as slight as copying an initial, or desire a boy name that feels in vogue to the max, then Mateo is perfect for you. As an update or alternative to Matthew, Mateo is sure to soar, and might make the ideal new addition to your family as well.
Cons
Let’s chat for a quick second about associations. Now, I do not live in Italy, so I can’t necessarily speak for anyone who lives there or the impressions of politicians there, but from my somewhat shallow depth of knowledge on Italian politicians (my greatest apologies for any lack of information; feel free to drop me a comment below or submit my contact form if you have a correction for me and I will gladly make it), there is a recently resigned Deputy Prime Minister with the name who is quite the controversial figure in Italy, perhaps making the name a bit of an iffy one to choose due to its potential to offend. In addition to the possibly strong opinions surrounding this name for those who are interested in Italian politics, there’s also the popularity. Mateo is a whole ton more popular than you may assume from mere guesswork. Even though he seems to have all of the positive qualities one would want in a name, it doesn’t feel like a name you hear all too often. In fact, in my entire life, I have yet to meet a Mateo, young child or adult. Now, that may just be the area I live in, but I would say that upon asking most people their thoughts on the name Mateo, you wouldn’t get half as many “ugh, it’s so overused!” as you would, say, Madison. Except those names received that exact same use in 2019, the most recent Social Security data. Thinking about the superstar Madison and her cousin name Addison have been and continue to be to this day, that’s pretty wild. And Mateo didn’t ease out into the public eye even half as slow as Madison, which many of us recognize as a far “trendier” name. In fact, he just peeked out into the top 1000 in 1995, which is very recent name-wise, much less a name that ranks at number 26! That’s right, Mateo is a top 30 baby name. And combine that with #179 Matteo, which is still very popular? You’ve got a trendy superstar in the making, even though he’s barely been accustomed to the top 1000 for a couple decades now. In conclusion, Mateo is climbing hard and fast, but doesn’t really seem to be as classic or steady as his sound may suggest.
Predictions For Mateo:
Normally, when it comes to predicting where names will go, I’m presented with a data graph that bobs in and out. Sure, the overall trajectory usually fits the mold of up or down, but you rarely see a set of data that just drops or rockets up continuously. Ah, yet here I am with the most consistent graph I’ve ever looked at for a name profile. Mateo is here to stay. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Name Warehouse will be welcoming Mateo into the oh-so special top 20 in a couple years or so, just given his mind-boggling bolt to the top. In just a decade, he’s leaped a wild 700 spots, and his future is obviously very bright. I completely see the appeal in softly sweet Mateo, and while he wouldn’t make it on my shortlist or even come close, he’s such a darling choice that he may sneak into the middle slot for one of my “just for fun” combos some day… Yes, I have a document completely dedicated to ridiculously elaborate and wild name combos. Doesn’t everyone?
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon