Matilda is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the German name Mahthildis, which consists of two elements: 'maht' meaning 'might', 'power', or 'strength', and 'hild' meaning 'battle'. Therefore, Matilda's name signifies 'power in battle'.
The name Matilda was brought to England by the Normans after their conquest in 1066. It became popular among the English royalty during the Middle Ages, with several queens named Matilda. One of the most notable ones is Matilda I (also known as Empress Matilda), daughter of King Henry I of England. She was a crucial figure in the power struggle between her son, King Henry II, and her grandson, King Richard I.
Matilda also has connections to other historical figures and cultures. In Italy, Matilda di Canossa (1046-1115) was a powerful noblewoman who played a significant role in medieval politics. Additionally, the name gained popularity in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and is still used today in Scandinavian countries.
In literature, Matilda is also the title character of Roald Dahl's 1988 novel "Matilda," which has contributed to its resurgence in popularity as a baby girl's name. Overall, Matilda is an historic and powerful name with deep roots in European history and culture.
The name Matilda has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Matilda was quite popular, with more than 600 births per year occurring between 1880 and 1930. The peak of this period occurred in 1917, with 690 births.
After 1930, the popularity of the name Matilda began to decline steadily. By 1945, the number of annual births had dropped to 85, and it continued to fluctuate at low levels for several decades. The lowest point was reached in 1978, with only 37 births.
However, since the late 1980s, Matilda has seen a resurgence in popularity. In 1997, there were 82 births, and by 2006, that number had increased to 179. The trend continued upwards, with 583 births in 2015, 630 in 2016, and a peak of 758 births in 2022.
In total, over the period from 1880 to 2023, there have been 35,650 births with the name Matilda in the United States. This data shows that while Matilda may not have been consistently popular throughout history, it has experienced notable periods of popularity and is currently one of the most popular girls' names in the U.S.