What does Giovanni mean?
Giovanni is the Italian form of John, “God is gracious.”
What does Matteo mean?
Italian form of Matthew, ultimately from Hebrew 'Mattityahu' ('gift of Yahweh / gift of God') via Greek Matthaios.
Giovanni vs Matteo
Which is more popular?
Giovanni is more popular than Matteo today: about 2,939 US babies were given the name Giovanni in 2025, compared with 2,455 named Matteo.
| Giovanni | Matteo | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Gift of God |
| Origin | Italian | italian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | joh-VAH-nee | maht-TEH-oh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1907 | 1911 |
| Peak year | 2010 (3,434) | 2024 (2,589) |
| In 2025 | 2,939 | 2,455 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Giovanni
Matteo
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Giovanni | Matteo |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,879 | 14,188 |
| 2010s | 30,418 | 14,630 |
| 2000s | 24,227 | 3,241 |
| 1990s | 10,931 | 676 |
| 1980s | 3,359 | 174 |
| 1970s | 1,418 | 120 |
| 1960s | 579 | 74 |
| 1950s | 153 | 26 |
| 1940s | 20 | 7 |
| 1930s | 56 | 65 |
| 1920s | 135 | 180 |
| 1910s | 175 | 102 |
| 1900s | 18 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Giovanni or Matteo more popular?
Giovanni is more popular than Matteo today: about 2,939 US babies were given the name Giovanni in 2025, compared with 2,455 named Matteo.
What is the difference between Giovanni and Matteo?
Giovanni means God is gracious (Italian origin), while Matteo means Gift of God (italian origin).
Which name is older, Giovanni or Matteo?
In US records, Giovanni first appears in 1907 and Matteo in 1911, so Giovanni has the longer recorded history.