Matilda means “battle mighty”, which is so fitting - it’s the name of a warrior, through and through! A lovely meaning for a little girl to carry. And there are so many options for diminutives - Mattie, Tilly, and my personal favourite Tilda, which I would use as a stand-alone. And of course there’s the namesake of Matilda by Roald Dahl, which is great in my opinion, as she’s an amazing, inspiring character - surely every little girl wants to be smart, kind, rebellious and have special powers?! I would definitely consider using it for a future daughter.
Matilda is one of my favourite M names. I enjoyed the movie Matilda & it made me fall in love with the name. It's unique and beautiful & I love the nickname Tillie.
I used to love this name because Matilda was my favourite movie when I was a child. But, over the years I have gone off it for some reason. It just sounds a bit harsh to me. I like the nickname Tilly not Matty. I still think it’s a nice name I’ve just gone off it a bit.
I think this name isn't overly common in Australia because of the song, "Waltzing Matilda". Apparently "Matilda" was a slang word for a swag (a type of bag). But it's still a good name, regardless of the song or slang word.
Name is cute, I don't like the nickname "Tilly" or "Tillie", it just is not a good nickname though the name Matilda is really cute! (❤´艸`❤)
― Anonymous User 4/25/2022
4
Matilda is magical. It's mysterious and enchanting in a friendly way and each syllable when pronounced aloud feels like a flower petal unfurling into a pleasant and uplifting bloom. Love it.
I love this name it sounds very nice and pretty and clear! And unique!
― Anonymous User 12/5/2021
4
I am named Matilda, and I love this name! It sounds so cool, and it's unique. But, sometimes some people can be annoying and tease my name. For example, sometimes when I haven't seen someone in a while, they will say things like "Oh hey there Madeline!" One time, someone even called me Miranda! But sometimes my friends tease me because they know I hate people calling me Madeline, or Madison, or Maddie, or Miranda. I am not saying those names are bad it is just I don't like people calling me that. But my cousins and family call me Tilda and Moose because those are my nicknames. So yeah basically I am just saying that Matilda is a nice name but sometimes not so much. Sorry if I have run-on sentences and bad grammar I am only 10. I am on this site because I am helping my older sister find a nice girl name for her baby that she is going to give birth to.
― Anonymous User 11/25/2021
12
I love this name. It sounds so magical, whimsical, mysterious etc. I don't even feel that it needs a nickname. It's wonderful on its own! It's on my list of names for a daughter!
I’m a Matilda, I like the name but I find it hard to come up with nicknames as I really dislike Tilly and only a few ppl call me Tilda, I’ve never had any issues about it other than that tho and overall I don’t think I’d change it :)
I really want to love this name more than I do. It's a nice, traditional, classic name, and I have a weird affinity with long names, especially three-syllable names. Also, I love the Roald Dahl reference of the little girl in the book/ movie named Matilda. This name checks all the boxes for me, but it just doesn't quite make my personal top ten of girl names. I still like it, though, and I appreciate it whenever I hear it. I love the nickname Tilly more than Mattie.
I love this name, if I ever have a daughter I plan on naming her this. It’s so cute and adorable and has many cute nicknames. My favorite book and musical is Matilda. Such a beautiful story of a magical girl who saves everyone and eventually gets saved herself.
It’s cute and has a nice association, Matilda by Roald Dahl.
― Anonymous User 11/11/2020
6
I love Matilda from the film (favourite childhood film of mine). I just can’t find a middle name I adore that goes with it. Sick and tired of the Rose, Grace and May middle names every child has this day.
I feel that someone with this name will get too many "Waltzing Matilda" jokes.
― Anonymous User 7/4/2020
-3
My 5 month old girl is called Matilda Rose. I just love the name and love how it is classic but not very common where I am. I love the meaning 'strength in battle' which she most definitely was as she spent 4 weeks in the neonatal unit for four weeks after being born 7 weeks early.
I’m not a big fan of this name. It sounds kind of harsh and the first thing that comes to mind is the book.
― Anonymous User 6/9/2020
-3
I think it is a smart name, can definitely see a Doctor Matilda.
― Anonymous User 6/4/2020
6
My name is Matilda and I like it, though it doesn't suit me at all. My friends and family all call me Mati. I like the name Mati because I think it is my style. I make a point of ignoring anyone who calls me Matilda, except my headmistress, but some annoying people start randomly chanting "Matilda, Matilda, Matilda" which is really frustrating. I don't really like Tilly as a nickname, though it would be great on a toddler. The name Tilly makes me think of a 2 year old with curly blonde hair and blue eyes, which I like a lot. Mati would be great for a child with freckles, but that's just my opinion. Also, people tend to relate me with Roald Dahl's character. I really like the idea of that character and yes, she is a lot like me, but, all the same, I don't really like her. And also, I am not five years old like she is. I think it is also very posh, which is a problem because whenever I say the word 'posh' I sound like Queen Elizabeth II, which is hilarious.
Lovely name. I love the vintage feeling and honestly what is the point of who said "old lady". People, old ladies were babies like every human. There's no old or young names, but trendy and dated names. And I think Matilda is sophisticated and charming, ready for a comeback.
― Anonymous User 4/25/2020
4
Too dowdy and old-womanish. Mattie sounds okay as a nickname, but why trade an uncommon name for a super common and bland nickname? Better to just choose something else.
― Anonymous User 2/11/2020
-9
This is my oldest daughter's name. Older people seem to hate it, people under 40 tend to compliment it. She mostly goes by Tilly, which I think is sweet on a little girl. Not common, but increasing in popularity. It is easily recognizable and spelled in English-speaking countries.
I knew a young woman (about 19-20 years old) in the early 1970's named Matilda. It was a highly unusual name for a young person in California at that time. Although it was a name associated with much older women perhaps even a hundred years earlier, there was something special about this Matilda. She was beautiful in every way, bright, outgoing, smart, witty, creative, fun, kind, generous. I remember she had beautiful hair and an engaging smile but I don't remember what she looked like. I just remember the wonderful essence of Matilda... Tilly. She made the name modern and fascinating. No one ever teased her about her name. Everyone was enthralled by Matilda.
― Anonymous User 10/11/2018
5
My mom's coworker's daughter was named this, but everyone knew her as Tilly. So now, I can see this name quite well for a little girl.
Terrible witch name don’t know why so many people like it also the spelling Mathilda is even worse and I imagine a dark haired evil goth woman when I hear this.
My first daughter is a Matilda - and she certainly is summed up as a Matilda. Strong in battle - she definitely was when she was born 4 weeks early and spent 7 days in the NICU Ward... Our Matilda is sometimes called Tilda by her younger sister, but that’s purely a pronunciation issue which will iron out as she becomes older. Personally we don’t like Tilly, or Mattie, but that is just our opinion.
I absolutely adore the name Matilda! It's so cute! Roald Dahl's book Matilda is one of my favourite books of his and I love the 1996 film too! I also love the adorable nickname Tilly! ^__^ ❤.
― Anonymous User 10/17/2015
6
Personally, I find this name beautiful in a timeless way. I can imagine it on a baby, it would be very cute on a little girl (e.g. Dahl's Matilda), and would be the kind of attractive, sophisticated name that a woman could really make her own. I could see a Matilda working as a doctor, a diplomat, an artist, a mom... pretty much anything! And we all know it would age well too. With about a zillion nickname possibilities, this is definitely a winner.
― Anonymous User 1/11/2015
4
Am I the only one who finds this name to be ugly and unattractive?
― Anonymous User 8/12/2014
-7
I loved the name Matilda as a child, because I loved the eponymous Roald Dahl book and Matilda Wormwood was my childhood hero! It's whimsical and spunky, and its strong meaning and rich history makes it a wonderful name to pass on to a daughter.
― Anonymous User 6/28/2014
5
Although Matilda is a top 20 name here in Australia where I'm from, I love it so much! It's regal, spunky and gorgeous! My husband and I will definitely be naming our future daughter Matilda, with the nickname Mattie.
― Anonymous User 5/15/2014
2
I think it's funny - people either love or despise the name Matilda. When pregnant so many people told me they hated the name and tried to talk me out of it. I think it is such a lovely name. I would love to know the name of some of the haters on this thread, so I can let them know what I think of their names. Matilda fits my daughter perfectly and she is the only one in her class that actually has a name that you can spell!
Matilda is a great name! It's old fashioned and has recently received a comeback, but not a very big one. I can see it getting more popular in the future, but I don't think it'll ever be as popular as it once was. This of course isn't the case in the UK and Australia. I would like to use this name and if I did, I think I'd use Attie as a nickname because I don't really like Tilly and Mattie unfortunately sounds too much like Maddie.
I'm a Matilda. People always call me Tilly or Tilda or Frecktilda (because I have freckles) anyway I don't know any other Matildas. I would love to hear from another one!
My name is Matilda, but I go by both Mattie and Tilly. Some people spell it 'Maddy' but once I correct them it's all fine. I love the name, it has a beautiful history, and it doesn't sound cold at all.My parents got the name from my older brother, who was obsessed with Roald Dahl books when he was younger. When my parents asked what he thought I should be called, it was between 'Matilda' and 'Sophie', the heroine of the B.F.G. My parents fell in love with the name.
― Anonymous User 5/6/2012
4
Matilda is my name and I absolutely love it! It is such a strong solid name and it fits me perfectly, as does the shortened form 'Tilly'.
― Anonymous User 4/12/2012
2
This name has quite a nice ring to it, even if it does sound a bit evil. It reminds me of a gypsy or something.
This name is growing on me, but it does sound very serious and not very... I don't know, fit for a child? But, the nicknames Mattie and Tilly are adorable.
I love this name it's super cute. But it was number 828 last year. That sort of makes me like I don't know. I strictly can't use names on the top 1000 list. Hopefully it doesn't become common. Lol, I know that's weird but that's me. Anyways I think this name is super adorable.
This is a really pretty name, though I'm not too fond of the nicknames it has. Putting the nicknames aside, this is a great name because it can sound mature or child-like. Very Beautiful, love it! (:
I think this is a sweet name. A nickname could be Maddie. Not so fond of Mattie, too much like "matted" fur or Matthew. Maddie is more feminine than Mattie.
I never thought I'd see a name trendy with the Normans become trendy in the 21st century. If Matilda can be hip again, maybe there's hope for unrelated crusties like Beulah, Gertrude and Brunhilde.
― Anonymous User 11/6/2008
2
I adore this name. At first I just thought it was sweet but probably wouldn't use it, but now it's my second favorite girls named (right after Eleanor). I think it's very sweet and classy. I don't care for any of the nicknames though, except for the occasional Tilly. Mattie is too much like the trendy Maddie, and Tilda just isn't my style.
I love this name. It's really strong and feminine without being girly. I also love the Aussie-song Waltzing Matilda, the book by Roald Dahl and the film based on it.
This is my name although it's somewhat old and dreadful to some people, Matilda is a classic name that I was able to use as a child and now as an adult. I would recommend Mattie, not Tilly, as a nickname if you must.
― Anonymous User 3/2/2008
3
I don't like it. Sounds like a name for a family cow. "Hey Jeb! I gotta go yonder and milk Matilda. She's been mooing all day!"
I love this name! Though I must admit it sounds really old-fashioned and maybe a bit uptight, I still have a totally cheesy love for it. Also Mathilda is nice. And Tilda is such a great nickname!
― Anonymous User 11/20/2007
2
Never heard of Tillie as a nickname for Matilda, but I think the nickname Mattie is very nice.
― Anonymous User 10/9/2007
1
I'm not male, but I find this name VERY ATTRACTIVE.
This is my name. When I was younger, I hated it, but now I like it so much. I think it sounds soft and pretty. I love an old nickname of mine, Tilda. It sounds even better without the "ma". I've also been called Matti, Matte, Mattitilda and Mat-ilda. But now, thank god, everyone calles me Matilda, plainly. And I couldn't be more happy about it.
Reminds me so much of Australia because of the popular song Waltzing Matilda. I personally think it is a really nice name. Problem is I always get the image of Mara Wilson (is that her name) playing Matilda in the book turned movie. That movie creeped me out for some reason.
― Anonymous User 6/1/2007
0
I like this name maybe because of the movie Matilda. Anyway this is a classic strong name for a girl. If you want a strong yet decent name consider this one. Oh and I am not too fond of the nickname Tilly/Tillie. It sounds so childish and boyish even. I guess it could be cute for young kids but not for older people. It also doesnt help that I know a shopping place called Tilly's.
Matilda sounds cold and harsh but the nickname Tillie is very cute and sweet.
― Anonymous User 9/10/2006
-3
My grandmother's middle name - she wanted me to be named after her. My mother had better sense, barely, since I'm not real crazy about the one she chose.