Mathilda Girl

Popularity: #916 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ma-THIL-da /mæˈθɪl.də/

Origin: German; Old High German

Meaning: Strength in battle; mighty in battle

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Mathilda has its roots in the Germanic elements "maht" meaning "might" or "strength" and "hild" meaning "battle." This etymology reflects a lineage that can be traced back to the early medieval period, where the name was recorded in various forms such as Matilda and Mahthildis. The name entered the English language through the Old French form "Matilde," which was adopted after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, particularly associated with the influential figure of Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror.

Historically, the name Mathilda gained prominence through several notable figures, including Matilda of Tuscany, a powerful noblewoman in the 11th century who played a significant role in the Investiture Controversy. Additionally, the name is famously associated with Empress Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I of England, who was a claimant to the English throne in the 12th century.

Her struggle for power during the civil war known as The Anarchy (1135-1154) marked a significant period in English history, further solidifying the name's historical significance. Culturally, Mathilda has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting its etymological roots.

The name has appeared in various literary works and has been embraced in different cultures, often symbolizing a strong female character. In some traditions, the diminutive form "Tilda" has emerged, which retains the essence of the original name while offering a more affectionate variant.

Overall, Mathilda's enduring legacy is rooted in its historical associations and the powerful figures who bore the name.

Famous people named Mathilda

In this section, you will find notable people named Mathilda. 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 Mathilda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Mathilda 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.

Mathilda May is an actress best known for The Fifth Element, The Last Man, and The Hunger.

Fictional characters named Mathilda

The following list of fictional characters named Mathilda 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.

Mathilda is a fictional character from the film Léon: The Professional. She is a young girl who becomes the apprentice of a hitman after her family is murdered.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mathilda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MabelMiraMinaMargoMayaMavis

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Mathilda. 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.

MatildaMarthaMiriamMireilleMadalynMireyaMina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Mathilda was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Mathilda has ranked as high as #949 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, Illinois, and Minnesota.

In the past 5 years the name Mathilda has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Mathilda 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 Mathilda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Mathilda.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 32 32
2024 30 30
2023 26 26
2022 36 36
2021 46 46
2020 32 32
2019 38 38
2018 41 41
2017 33 33
2016 38 38
2015 52 52
2014 36 36
2013 33 33
2012 41 41
2011 34 34
2010 34 34
2009 40 40
2008 21 21
2007 19 19
2006 20 20
2005 12 12
2004 20 20
2003 24 24
2002 21 21
2001 20 20
2000 17 17
1999 13 13
1998 22 22
1997 7 7
1996 11 11
1995 12 12
1988 5 5
1985 5 5
1984 7 7
1983 8 8
1979 6 6
1978 8 8
1977 7 7
1976 5 5
1975 5 5
1974 11 11
1973 6 6
1972 6 6
1971 8 8
1970 11 11
1969 6 6
1968 10 10
1967 8 8
1966 12 12
1965 12 12
1964 15 15
1963 12 12
1962 9 9
1961 12 12
1960 10 10
1959 14 14
1958 15 15
1957 16 16
1956 14 14
1955 14 14
1954 9 9
1953 18 18
1952 9 9
1951 13 13
1950 12 12
1949 12 12
1948 17 17
1947 17 17
1946 11 11
1945 19 19
1944 16 16
1943 30 30
1942 22 22
1941 21 21
1940 25 25
1939 28 28
1938 28 28
1937 34 34
1936 37 37
1935 44 44
1934 38 38
1933 31 31
1932 47 47
1931 42 42
1930 47 47
1929 47 47
1928 57 57
1927 79 79
1926 88 88
1925 100 100
1924 113 113
1923 140 140
1922 140 140
1921 147 147
1920 146 146
1919 142 142
1918 180 180
1917 164 164
1916 170 170
1915 146 146
1914 142 142
1913 101 101
1912 120 120
1911 97 97
1910 95 95
1909 84 84
1908 85 85
1907 90 90
1906 102 102
1905 84 84
1904 101 101
1903 88 88
1902 104 104
1901 109 109
1900 113 113
1899 127 127
1898 130 130
1897 108 108
1896 121 121
1895 127 127
1894 136 136
1893 148 148
1892 150 150
1891 138 138
1890 138 138
1889 168 168
1888 133 133
1887 138 138
1886 120 120
1885 102 102
1884 95 95
1883 100 100
1882 68 68
1881 69 69
1880 72 72

Top States for Mathilda (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 8
100%