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Why parents love Matilda- Roald Dahl's Matilda is children's literature's most empowering heroine.
- Waltzing Matilda is Australia's unofficial national anthem.
- Three syllables with a strong, vintage sound: mah-TIL-dah.
- The meaning battle-mighty is fiercely aspirational.
- Tilly and Mattie are both gorgeous nicknames.
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The vibe of Matilda
battle-mightyDahlTrunchbulltelekinesisreadingWaltzing MatildaAustraliaempowering
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Origin & history of Matilda
Germanic maht (might) + hild (battle)
→ Matilda
1
Germanic roots
Matilda comes from the Germanic meaning battle-mighty. Roald Dahl's Matilda (1988) is children's literature's most empowering heroine — she defeats the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull through reading and telekinesis. Waltzing Matilda is Australia's unofficial national anthem. Queen Matilda fought King Stephen for the English throne.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Norman England; Queen Matilda fought for the throne in the 12th century.
3
Today
Matilda remains a beloved choice, ranking #470 in the US. 36,438 babies have been named Matilda since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Matilda?
2024
peak year
Matilda reached its widest reach during the 2020s. In 2024, 769 babies received the name (ranked #410). In the present decade it sits around #470, with about 670 babies given the name annually. Matilda's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 36,438 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
769
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #410)
(ranked #410)
670
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
6,700
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
36,438
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Matilda6
Life path number
The Nurturer
Nurturing, love and responsibility.
Matilda's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — battle-mighty achievement. People named Matilda tend to be strong, empowered, and gifted at defeating bullies through the power of books.
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Defeats bullies through books✦
Battle-mighty empowerment◈
Dahl-level imagination◎
Waltzing-Matilda freedom♡
Telekinetic readingM4
A1
T2
I9
L3
D4
A1
Sum: 24 → Life path 6
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Personality of Matilda❤️
Nurturing heart
They notice when someone is struggling before anyone else.
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Creates warmth
Their circle is warmer for their presence.
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Strong morals
They know what's right and stand by it.
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Quietly selfless
They give and give, often without realising how much.
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Famous people named MatildaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Matilda, you may also love◎
Names that sound like MatildaIf you love Matilda, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with MatildaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Matilda.
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Middle names for MatildaThe right middle name turns Matilda into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Matilda? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Matilda →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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