The suburb was named on 1 August 1967 after Sir Matthew Nathan, Governor of Queensland from 1920 to 1926.
ðə sˈʌbɜːb wʌz nˈeɪmd ˌɔn wˈʌn ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɛvən ˈæftɚ sˌɜː mˈæθjuː nˈeɪθən, ɡˈʌvɚnɚɹ ʌv kwˈiːnslənd fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti sˈɪks.