Mafalda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mah-FAL-duh /məˈfɑːldə/
Origin: Spanish; Portuguese
Meaning: Spanish: she who is powerful; Portuguese: mighty
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Mafalda has its roots in the Germanic elements "maht" meaning "strength" and "wald" meaning "to rule". It is derived from the Old High German name "Mahthilda", which evolved into various forms across different languages.
The name made its way into the Romance languages, particularly through the influence of the Visigoths in the Iberian Peninsula, and eventually entered the Spanish and Portuguese lexicons as Mafalda. This transition reflects the broader historical movements of peoples and languages in medieval Europe, particularly during the early Middle Ages when Germanic tribes settled in regions that would later become part of modern Spain and Portugal.
Historically, the name Mafalda has been borne by several notable figures, including Mafalda of Savoy, a queen consort of Portugal in the 12th century. She is remembered for her piety and charitable works, which contributed to the cultural and religious landscape of her time.
Additionally, the name has been associated with various saints, particularly in the context of medieval Christian traditions. The presence of the name in historical texts and records underscores its significance in the cultural and religious fabric of the regions where it was used.
Culturally, Mafalda has resonated through literature and media, particularly in the 20th century with the creation of the beloved comic strip character Mafalda by Argentine cartoonist Quino. This character, known for her critical view of society and her quest for justice, has become an emblem of social awareness and childhood innocence in Latin American culture.
The name's enduring presence in various forms of expression reflects its symbolic associations with strength, leadership, and a quest for understanding in a complex world.
Famous people named Mafalda
In this section, you will find notable people named Mafalda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Mafalda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Mafalda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Mafalda is a comic strip character created by Quino, best known for her satirical take on society and politics.
Fictional characters named Mafalda
The following list of fictional characters named Mafalda is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Mafalda is a fictional character from the comic strip Mafalda. She is a precocious young girl known for her strong opinions on social issues and her questioning of adult authority.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mafalda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Mafalda. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Mafalda was first seen in the United States in 1902.
Mafalda has ranked as high as #809 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Mafalda has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Mafalda is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Mafalda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Mafalda (1935)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Mafalda.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1937 | 14 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 16 |
| 1931 | 30 |
| 1930 | 32 |
| 1929 | 39 |
| 1928 | 63 |
| 1927 | 73 |
| 1926 | 69 |
| 1925 | 85 |
| 1924 | 71 |
| 1923 | 81 |
| 1922 | 66 |
| 1921 | 72 |
| 1920 | 55 |
| 1919 | 55 |
| 1918 | 61 |
| 1917 | 76 |
| 1916 | 54 |
| 1915 | 76 |
| 1914 | 43 |
| 1913 | 36 |
| 1912 | 23 |
| 1911 | 13 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1908 | 5 |
| 1902 | 5 |