Tilda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TIL-duh /ˈtɪldə/
Origin: German; Scandinavian
Meaning: German: mighty in battle; Scandinavian: strength
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tilda is derived from the Germanic name Matilda, which itself originates from the Old High German elements "maht" meaning "might" or "strength" and "hild" meaning "battle." This name evolved through various forms, including the Latinized "Matilda" and the Old French "Mahaut," before being anglicized to Matilda in English. The transition into English can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when the name became popular among the nobility, particularly due to the influence of notable figures such as Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, and Matilda of Scotland, who was married to Henry I of England.
Throughout the medieval period, the name Matilda was borne by several queens and saints, which contributed to its prominence in England. One of the most significant historical milestones associated with the name is the reign of Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, who was a key figure in the English civil war known as The Anarchy during the 12th century.
Her claim to the throne and subsequent struggles for power helped solidify the name's association with strength and resilience. In terms of cultural resonance, the name Tilda, as a diminutive form of Matilda, has been embraced in various literary and artistic contexts.
It evokes a sense of charm and femininity while retaining the strength inherent in its roots. The name has been featured in various works of literature and media, often symbolizing a character with a strong will or an adventurous spirit.
Overall, Tilda carries with it a rich historical legacy, reflecting themes of strength and nobility that have persisted through the centuries.
Famous people named Tilda
In this section, you will find notable people named Tilda. 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 Tilda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tilda 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.
Tilda Swinton is an actress best known for Michael Clayton, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Tilda Swinton is a fashion icon known for her unique style and collaborations with designers.
Fictional characters named Tilda
The following list of fictional characters named Tilda 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.
Tilda is a fictional character from the novel and film The Witch. She is a powerful and enigmatic witch who plays a central role in the story's dark themes of fear and superstition.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tilda, 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 Tilda. 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 Tilda was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Tilda has ranked as high as #881 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Tilda has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tilda 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 Tilda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tilda (2010)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 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 Tilda.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 10 |
| 1967 | 12 |
| 1966 | 12 |
| 1965 | 12 |
| 1964 | 18 |
| 1963 | 20 |
| 1962 | 22 |
| 1961 | 18 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 22 |
| 1958 | 23 |
| 1957 | 24 |
| 1956 | 11 |
| 1955 | 19 |
| 1954 | 15 |
| 1953 | 15 |
| 1952 | 17 |
| 1951 | 11 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 19 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1947 | 23 |
| 1946 | 17 |
| 1945 | 22 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 13 |
| 1941 | 16 |
| 1940 | 13 |
| 1939 | 22 |
| 1938 | 18 |
| 1937 | 23 |
| 1936 | 17 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 21 |
| 1933 | 21 |
| 1932 | 22 |
| 1931 | 17 |
| 1930 | 19 |
| 1929 | 22 |
| 1928 | 29 |
| 1927 | 32 |
| 1926 | 25 |
| 1925 | 24 |
| 1924 | 35 |
| 1923 | 26 |
| 1922 | 29 |
| 1921 | 32 |
| 1920 | 26 |
| 1919 | 28 |
| 1918 | 29 |
| 1917 | 29 |
| 1916 | 29 |
| 1915 | 19 |
| 1914 | 16 |
| 1913 | 18 |
| 1912 | 28 |
| 1911 | 18 |
| 1910 | 15 |
| 1909 | 22 |
| 1908 | 14 |
| 1907 | 22 |
| 1906 | 14 |
| 1905 | 23 |
| 1904 | 17 |
| 1903 | 15 |
| 1902 | 24 |
| 1901 | 23 |
| 1900 | 21 |
| 1899 | 15 |
| 1898 | 19 |
| 1897 | 22 |
| 1896 | 19 |
| 1895 | 27 |
| 1894 | 14 |
| 1893 | 17 |
| 1892 | 16 |
| 1891 | 15 |
| 1890 | 26 |
| 1889 | 13 |
| 1888 | 17 |
| 1887 | 18 |
| 1886 | 28 |
| 1885 | 17 |
| 1884 | 17 |
| 1883 | 31 |
| 1882 | 15 |
| 1881 | 16 |
| 1880 | 7 |