Matilda Name Meaning & Origin
Matilda
Origin of the name Matilda:
Derived from the Old High German Mahthilda (powerful in battle), a compound name composed of the elements maht (might, power) and hiltia (battle).
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Matilda Over Time

Sister & Brother Names
Know a Matilda? What are her siblings named?
Name Lists Featuring Matilda
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) 2014
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) 2014
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand 2014
- Finnish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Finland 2014
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales (2013)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria), 2010
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand, 2010
- English Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England, 2010
- Finnish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Finland, 2010
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden, 2010
- English and Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England and Wales
- English Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in England 2015
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Welsh Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Wales
- Chilean Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Chile 2010
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales) for 2012
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria) for 2012
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand for 2012
- Swedish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Sweden for 2012
- Finnish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Finland for 2012
- Taswegian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Tasmania 2014
- Scottish Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Scotland
- Chilean Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Chile
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (New South Wales)
- Taswegian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Tasmania
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in New Zealand
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Western)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Northern)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Southern)
- Australian Girls Names: Most Popular Names for Girls in Australia (Queensland)
Contribute your knowledge to the name Matilda
- Comments and insights on the name Matilda
Matilda is steadily climbing up in popularity in England... it was off the top 100 chart when I was pregnant 4 years ago... The next year it was on number 83 and it's up to 60-something now. Watch out for it getting popular in the US too, now with Heath Ledger's death (more mention of his little girl, called Matilda.)
Matilda is a classic Aussie name, it's never been number 1 of the the top 100 or anything, but its always around. It works for both a little girl (Tilly is the cutest nickname) and a sophisticated woman.
- Personal experiences with the name Matilda
Having breakfast in a fashionable cafe in London this morning, I overheard a mother calling after her toddler, "Matilda! Matilda! Tillie!" Do I smell a trend?
My sister is called Matilda and it suits her really well. I think it is a very bright, friendly and happy name.
My name is Matilda and I love it :D I have never been teased and would say it is the perfect name to call your child.
We all thought my sister was nuts when she named her first child, Matilda Elaine. Such an old sounding name for a tiny, gorgeous baby! Mattie is in college now and has really grown into her name. She's an old soul!
I like Mattie for a nickname, but I don't like Tillie or Tildy.
My baby cousin is named Matilda. We call her Tillie :)
I always thought of Matilda as an old maid aunt's name.
My daughter's name is Matilda Hope. I love it :). I make sure nobody ever calls her Mattie, Tillie, or Tildy though. The only thing I was worried about when we named her was the relation to the book by Rohald Dahl, but so far that hasn't been a problem. And I don't think Matilda sounds like an old woman's name at all to be completely honest. Matilda has twin brothers, Jason and Harry, a sister named Prudence, and Cynthia :)
My name is Alyssa but my aunt always called me Matilda :).
My best friend is Matilda, her family nickname is Tilda but her friends call her Tilly or Matti :D
- Nicknames for Matilda
Tilda, Tilder, Tillie, Tilly, Mattie, Milly, Millie, Milla, Tia, Tildy, Mimi, Mally, Molly, Tilsie, Tess, Tilla, Maddie, Matt, Matey
Zelda- Meanings and history of the name Matilda
The meaning of the name Matilda is strength in battle.
/"I'm a Zelda" Impossible to trap because the chairs around you shiver and move as you will. A girl lost in battles for where walks of a female carry her. MATILDA declares I AM one, so the name means "a girl who knows she's an Elf."- Famous real-life people named Matilda
Matilda Joslyn Gage, 19th century American feminist
Mathilda Gelhaar, Swedish opera singer
Matilda Coxe Stevenson, American ethnologist and author
Empress Matilda, the first female ruler of England (she ruled for a few months during The Anarchy)
Saint Margaret of Scotland
Tilda Swinton, actress (full name Katherine Matilda)
Matilda Ramsay, British actress, television presenter and television chef- Matilda in song, story & screen
Matilda, title character of the children's book "Matilda" by Roald Dahl, published 1988.
"Waltzing Matilda" is an Australian folk song written by Banjo Paterson in 1895.
"Matilda", song by Harry Belafonte, also done by the Grateful Dead
Matilda "Maddie" Warden, one-half of fraternal twins, in the "Superjail!" fanfic "Extended Stay."
"Matilda" (2012) is a song by the band Alt-J, and is inspired by the film 'Leon: The Professional'. The song is also covered by the band Paramore
Matilda Magillicuddy in the internet comic blog The Greasers of Hazzick Flats. http://www.thegreasersofhazzickflats.blogspot.com She's never seen in the comic strip, but whenever a scandalous article appears in The Hazzick Flats Gazette, it's credited by Matilda Magillicuddy, Staff Writer.