Matilda
Meaning of Matilda
Matilda derives from the Old High German compound Mahthildis—mahth “strength, might” plus hild “battle”—and entered the Anglo-Saxon onomasticon via the Norman Conquest, subsequently borne by royal figures such as the 12th-century Empress Matilda and two medieval English queens consort, thereby embedding the name in the political annals of Britain. In modern Anglo-American usage it retains its Germanic phonetic core (mah-TIL-dah /mɑˈtɪldə/ or muh-TIL-duh /məˈtɪldə/), while the continental German articulation mah-TIL-dah (/maˈtɪlda/) preserves the terminal open vowel. Literary and cultural currency has been sustained by Roald Dahl’s novel “Matilda” (1988) and Tim Minchin’s subsequent stage adaptation, both of which emphasize intellectual resilience consonant with the name’s etymological connotation of “mighty in battle.” United States vital-statistics data indicate a century-long decline followed by a gradual, steady resurgence beginning in the early 2000s, with current incidence approximating 750 births per year and rank positions in the mid-300s. Overall, Matilda offers parents a historically anchored yet freshly revitalized choice that balances regal gravitas with contemporary literary appeal.
Pronunciation
German
- Pronunced as mah-TIL-dah (/ma'tɪlda//)
British English
- Pronunced as MAH-till-duh (/mɑ'tildə/)
American English
- Pronunced as muh-TIL-duh (/məˈtɪldə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Matilda
| Matilda of Tuscany, also called Matilda of Canossa and la Gran Contessa, was a leading eleventh century Italian ruler who navigated wars, political intrigue, and Church excommunications. |
| American writer and suffrage leader Matilda Joslyn Gage also championed Native American rights, abolition, and freethought, influenced her son-in-law L. Frank Baum, and lent her name to the Matilda effect on credit denied to women in science. |
| Matilda of Scotland, known as Good Queen Maud, was the first wife of King Henry I and served as Queen consort of England, Duchess of Normandy, and regent during his absences. |
| Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, was Queen of England, regent of Normandy in his absences, and mother of nine surviving children including kings William II and Henry I. |
| Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony - Matilda of England was a Plantagenet princess who became Duchess consort of Saxony and Bavaria from 1168 to 1180. |
| Matilda Ridout Edgar, a Canadian historian and feminist, became Lady Edgar in 1898, turned to research and writing in her forties while raising nine children, published three books with a fourth unfinished, and was an active advocate for women in Toronto. |
| Matilda of Savoy, Queen of Portugal - Matilda of Savoy became Queen of Portugal by marrying Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, in 1146. |
| Matilda Koen-Sarano was an Italian-born Israeli writer of Turkish Jewish heritage and a leading voice in Ladino. |
| Matilda of Anjou, also called Mahaut, married William Adelin, heir to Henry I of England, in 1119. |
| Matilda Dodge Wilson was an American heiress and politician who served as lieutenant governor of Michigan, was the widow of auto pioneer John Dodge, and cofounded Oakland University on her Meadow Brook estate. |
| Matilda Geddings Gray was a US heiress and philanthropist who also made her mark in business and art collecting. |
| Matilda of Saxony, also called Richenza, was a German Welf noble who was Countess of Perche, later Lady of Coucy, and a niece of Richard the Lionheart. |
| Matilda of France, a Carolingian princess, became Queen of Burgundy around 964 by marrying King Conrad I and remained queen until her death. |
| Matilda of Bavaria, Margravine of Meissen - Matilde of Bavaria, eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV and Beatrix of Swidnica, was a member of the House of Wittelsbach. |
| Matilda of Saxony, Countess of Flanders - Matilda of Saxony was a Saxon noblewoman who became Countess of Flanders through marriage to Baldwin III. |
