Alphaeus
/AE-L-F-IY-AH-S/
From Greek Alphaios, a name of uncertain etymology — possibly from Hebrew Halphay or Aramaic Halfai, meaning exchange or successor, though the derivation is debated. In the New Testament, Alphaeus is the father of the apostle Matthew (Levi) and of James the Less, making it a name that appears twice in the apostolic generation; its exact Semitic root has never been settled with certainty.
Get Alphaeus's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Alphaeus:
How well does Alphaeus fit your family?
This page tells you what Alphaeus means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Alphaeus is a Christian boy name of Greek origin, meaning “From Greek Alphaios, a name of uncertain etymology — possibly from Hebrew Halphay or Aramaic Halfai, meaning exchange or successor, though the derivation is debated. In the New Testament, Alphaeus is the father of the apostle Matthew (Levi) and of James the Less, making it a name that appears twice in the apostolic generation; its exact Semitic root has never been settled with certainty.”.
Alphaeus is a boy's name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "From Greek Alphaios, a name of uncertain etymology — possibly from Hebrew Halphay or Aramaic Halfai, meaning exchange or successor, though the derivation is debated. In the New Testament, Alphaeus is the father of the apostle Matthew (Levi) and of James the Less, making it a name that appears twice in the apostolic generation; its exact Semitic root has never been settled with certainty." and belongs to the Divine cluster — names rooted in sacred meaning and spiritual tradition.
Common among European, Greek families, Alphaeus carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Alphaeus
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Alphaeus lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Alphaeus's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Alphaeus's saint & feast day →What does Alphaeus's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Alphaeus resonates in either tradition.
Alphaeus's destiny number is 11 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Alphaeus's full reading →
Does Alphaeus go with your family's names?
Alphaeus breaks into 6 sounds: /AE-L-F-IY-AH-S/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Alphaeus sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Alphaeus beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Alphaeus — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Alphaeus
If Alphaeus resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in European families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Divine cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Alphaeus
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Alphaeus — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Alphaeus
What does the name Alphaeus mean?
Alphaeus means "From Greek Alphaios, a name of uncertain etymology — possibly from Hebrew Halphay or Aramaic Halfai, meaning exchange or successor, though the derivation is debated. In the New Testament, Alphaeus is the father of the apostle Matthew (Levi) and of James the Less, making it a name that appears twice in the apostolic generation; its exact Semitic root has never been settled with certainty.." It is a boy name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Alphaeus a boy or girl name?
Alphaeus is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Alphaeus?
Alphaeus is of Greek origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among European, Greek families.
Is Alphaeus a Christian name?
Yes. Alphaeus is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Greek origin.
What does Alphaeus mean in Greek?
Alphaeus originates from Greek, where it means "From Greek Alphaios, a name of uncertain etymology — possibly from Hebrew Halphay or Aramaic Halfai, meaning exchange or successor, though the derivation is debated. In the New Testament, Alphaeus is the father of the apostle Matthew (Levi) and of James the Less, making it a name that appears twice in the apostolic generation; its exact Semitic root has never been settled with certainty.."
What are common nicknames for Alphaeus?
Common short forms of Alphaeus include Alpi.
What is the numerology of Alphaeus?
Alphaeus has a Pythagorean destiny number of 11 — intuition and inspired leadership (master number).
See how Alphaeus scores for your family
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