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Name

Matilda

/mah-TIL-dah/ FeminineGermanic

Meaning

Matilda is a feminine name of Germanic origin meaning “might in battle”.

Matilda fuses the Germanic elements maht, might, and hild, battle, and belonged to the empress who fought a civil war for England's crown in the twelfth century. Roald Dahl's book-loving telekinetic heroine won the name a new century of admirers, with Tilly and Mattie as its friendly faces.

A top-40 name in England and Australia; climbing the US charts.

Popularity in the United States

Girls

Ranked #364 in 2025 · peak #364 in 2025

Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.

At a glance

Origin
Germanic
Gender
Feminine
Pronounced
/mah-TIL-dah/

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Questions

  • Matilda is a feminine name of Germanic origin meaning “might in battle”. Matilda fuses the Germanic elements maht, might, and hild, battle, and belonged to the empress who fought a civil war for England's crown in the twelfth century.

  • Matilda is traditionally a feminine (girl) name. It is a top-40 name in England and Australia; climbing the US charts.

  • The name Matilda comes from Germanic. Matilda fuses the Germanic elements maht, might, and hild, battle, and belonged to the empress who fought a civil war for England's crown in the twelfth century. Roald Dahl's book-loving telekinetic heroine won the name a new century of admirers, with Tilly and Mattie as its friendly faces.

  • Matilda is pronounced mah-TIL-dah.

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