The story behind Matilda
From Middle English Matilda, from Old French Mathilde, from Old High German Mahthilt, Mehthilt, from Proto-West Germanic *Mahtihild, from Proto-Germanic *Mahtihildiz; compare German Mechthild, Old English Mæþhild (“Matilda”).
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Finnish entry
From English Matilda, from Old French Mathilde, from Old High German Mahthilt (meaning something like “powerful warrioress”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /məˈtɪldə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Finnish: /ˈmɑtildɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈmɑ̝t̪ildɑ̝]
Popularity
Matilda ranked #365 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Matilda
Malwina
Borrowed from English Malvina, from Scottish Gaelic Mala-mhìn.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Manuela
Borrowed from English Manuel, Portuguese Manuel, Spanish Manuel.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Maria
Borrowed from Latin Maria, borrowed from Ancient Greek Μᾰρῐ́ᾱ (Mărĭ́ā), borrowed from Aramaic מרים (maryam), borrowed from Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (miryɔm). Doublet of Mary,…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Marisa
A female given name from Spanish, variant of Marissa. Borrowed from English Marissa, contraction of Maria Lisa.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Mathilda
A female given name from the Germanic languages, a less common spelling of Matilda.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Meleana
Borrowed from English Mary Ann and Marianne.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Matilda
Belle
From French belle (“beauty, beautiful”), from Latin bella. Diminutive of Isabelle and Annabelle.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Berengarius
Borrowed from a Germanic language; see Berengar.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Berry
From berry; also a pet form of Beryl, Berenice, or Berinthia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Matilda
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length