Matilda

Meaning: strength in battle · Origin: Germanic · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

From Germanic maht ('might') + hild ('battle'). Empress Matilda fought for the English throne in the 1100s; Roald Dahl's Matilda (1988) gave it new life.

Famous people named Matilda

Empress Matilda
Matilda De Angelis (actor)

Nicknames

Tilly, Mattie, Tilda

Variants & related names

Mathilde, Mathilda, Matylda

Matilda name art

A free preview of a printable “Matilda” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Matilda mean?

Matilda means “strength in battle”. It comes from Germanic.

Is Matilda a popular name?

Matilda is a familiar girls' name in the UK and Australia. For exact current rankings, see the Office for National Statistics (England and Wales) and Australian state birth registries.

What are nicknames for Matilda?

Tilly, Mattie, Tilda.

What are other forms of Matilda?

Mathilde, Mathilda, Matylda.

Similar names

Emery · Caroline · Harriet · Ada · Aubrey · Adeline

More: names starting with M · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.