Tilda

Meaning of Tilda

Tilda is a female given name of Germanic origin, historically functioning as a diminutive of Mathilda and etymologically composed of the Old High German elements maht (“might”) and hild (“battle”). In Swedish it is articulated as TEEL-dah (/ˈti.l.da/) and in English-speaking contexts as TIL-dʌ (/ˈtɪl.də/), each reflecting a clear trochaic stress pattern aligned with its concise two-syllable morphology. Although Tilda remains relatively rare in the United States—ranked 937th with thirteen recorded occurrences in 2024—it has maintained a stable presence since its late 19th-century introduction, exhibiting minor fluctuations that mirror broader naming shifts toward diminutive forms. From a technical standpoint, the name’s phonemic economy and semantic depth render it appealing within an Anglo-American naming paradigm that values both brevity and etymological substance, a perception further reinforced by the cultural visibility of figures such as British actress Tilda Swinton.

Pronunciation

Swedish

• Pronunced as TEEL-dah (/ˈti.l.da/)

English

• Pronunced as TIL-duh (/ˈtɪl.də/)

• Mathilda
• Matilda
• Tilly
• Hilda