Mafalda is a distinctive and charming given name of Italian origin, derived from the Latin 'mafaldus', which means 'battle-ready'. It is composed of two elements: 'mah' meaning 'to fight' and 'faldus' signifying 'ready'. This name has been popularized in literature by the character Mafalda, created by Argentinian cartoonist Quino, who depicted her as an intelligent and thoughtful nine-year-old girl. In Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, this name has gained prominence due to its uniqueness and historical significance.
The name Mafalda experienced significant growth in popularity during the early to mid-1900s, peaking between 1912 and 1915 with over 70 births per year each of those years. The highest number of births recorded was 76 in both 1915 and 1917. However, popularity declined sharply after World War I, dropping below 30 births per year by 1928 and continuing to decrease until reaching a low of 11 births in 1935.