Girl
Matilda
mighty in battle
About Matilda
Here's a name with genuine substance and character, one that's experienced a remarkable renaissance in recent years. It carries literary weight and historical depth while feeling completely accessible and friendly. The name suggests intelligence, creativity, and a touch of mischievousness—qualities that make for interesting, accomplished individuals.
Multiple nickname options provide flexibility: Tilly, Mattie, Tilda, each bringing its own personality while maintaining connection to the full name.
There's something wonderfully grounded about it, an earthiness that suggests practicality balanced with imagination. It works beautifully for artistic types and analytical minds alike, never pigeonholing its bearer into a particular category. Parents choosing this name often appreciate classic literature, value education, and want something with roots but without feeling stuffy or outdated in contemporary settings.
Popularity of the Name Matilda
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names in the United States, by year.
| 1880 | #101 |
| 1881 | #106 |
| 1882 | #103 |
| 1883 | #125 |
| 1884 | #108 |
| 1885 | #107 |
| 1886 | #104 |
| 1887 | #114 |
| 1888 | #112 |
| 1889 | #119 |
| 1890 | #133 |
| 1891 | #120 |
| 1892 | #130 |
| 1893 | #130 |
| 1894 | #149 |
| 1895 | #135 |
| 1896 | #142 |
| 1897 | #146 |
| 1898 | #144 |
| 1899 | #149 |
| 1900 | #161 |
| 1901 | #167 |
| 1902 | #165 |
| 1903 | #187 |
| 1904 | #172 |
| 1905 | #187 |
| 1906 | #173 |
| 1907 | #173 |
| 1908 | #197 |
| 1909 | #204 |
| 1910 | #227 |
| 1911 | #222 |
| 1912 | #224 |
| 1913 | #230 |
| 1914 | #241 |
| 1915 | #232 |
| 1916 | #240 |
| 1917 | #239 |
| 1918 | #243 |
| 1919 | #253 |
| 1920 | #261 |
| 1921 | #274 |
| 1922 | #259 |
| 1923 | #271 |
| 1924 | #287 |
| 1925 | #304 |
| 1926 | #324 |
| 1927 | #329 |
| 1928 | #337 |
| 1929 | #355 |
| 1930 | #390 |
| 1931 | #416 |
| 1932 | #412 |
| 1933 | #465 |
| 1934 | #457 |
| 1935 | #458 |
| 1936 | #458 |
| 1937 | #508 |
| 1938 | #555 |
| 1939 | #592 |
| 1940 | #555 |
| 1941 | #621 |
| 1942 | #655 |
| 1943 | #675 |
| 1944 | #678 |
| 1945 | #821 |
| 1946 | #711 |
| 1947 | #742 |
| 1948 | #728 |
| 1949 | #722 |
| 1950 | #723 |
| 1951 | #783 |
| 1952 | #828 |
| 1953 | #872 |
| 1954 | #906 |
| 1955 | #887 |
| 1956 | #949 |
| 1959 | #955 |
| 1960 | #982 |
| 1963 | #942 |
| 1964 | #939 |
| 2008 | #827 |
| 2009 | #762 |
| 2010 | #799 |
| 2011 | #771 |
| 2012 | #657 |
| 2013 | #648 |
| 2014 | #582 |
| 2015 | #537 |
| 2016 | #496 |
| 2017 | #522 |
| 2018 | #489 |
| 2019 | #448 |
| 2020 | #478 |
| 2021 | #466 |
| 2022 | #417 |
| 2023 | #439 |
| 2024 | #411 |
| 2025 | #365 |
Variations of Name Matilda
Names Similar to Matilda
Nicknames for Matilda
- Tilly
- Matty
- Tilda
- Mati
- Tilda
Famous People Named Matilda
| Matilda of Flanders | Queen consort of William the Conqueror |
| Matilda Joslyn Gage | American suffragist and women's rights advocate |
| Matilda Sissieretta Jones | African-American soprano |
| Matilda Cuomo | Former First Lady of New York |
| Matilda Dodge Wilson | Philanthropist and co-founder of the Dodge Motor Company |
| Matilda de Angelis | Italian actress |
| Matilda Ramsay | British television personality |
| Matilda Ledger | Daughter of actors Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams |
| Matilda Lutz | Italian actress |
| Matilda Jane Evans | Australian artist and author |
| Matilda Alice Powles | British singer-songwriter known as Alice Merton |
| Matilda Montgomery | American actress |
| Matilda of Tuscany | Italian noblewoman and military leader |
| Matilda Jane Kraemer | American artist |
| Matilda May | French actress and model |
| Matilda von Hackeborn-Wippra | German saint |
| Matilda Hulsebus | Australian cricketer |
| Matilda Edge | British Paralympic swimmer |
| Matilda Coxe Stevenson | American ethnologist and archaeologist |
| Matilda Alice Victoria Wood | British comedian and actress known as Victoria Wood |
Characters Named Matilda
| Matilda Honey | Character in the movie "Matilda" |
| Matilda Lando | Character in "Leon - The Professional" |
| Matilda Simmons | Character in the book "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett |
| Matilda Mother | Character in Pink Floyd's song "Matilda Mother" |
| Matilda "Mattie" Ross | Character in the novel "True Grit" by Charles Portis |
| Matilda Forester | Character in Jane Austen's novel "Mansfield Park" |
| Matilda Hawking | Character in the TV series "Outlander" |
| Matilda Ramsay | Character in the TV series "Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch" |
| Matilda Wormwood | Character in the musical "Matilda the Musical" |
| Matilda Kavanagh | Character in the TV series "Shadowhunters" |
| Matilda Novak | Character in the TV series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" |
| Matilda Dixon | Character in the movie "Dark Was the Night" |
| Matilda Jones | Character in the book "The Bone Collector" by Jeffrey Deaver |
| Matilda Westenra | Character in Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula" |
| Matilda the Kangaroo | Character in the TV series "Bananas in Pyjamas" |
| Matilda Green | Character in the video game "Fire Emblem - Three Houses" |
| Matilda "Mattie" Franklin | Marvel Comics character |
| Matilda de Braose | Character in the novel "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett |
| Matilda Erickson | Character in the video game "Life is Strange 2" |