| Hilda | Matilda | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Battle | Battle-mighty |
| Origin | germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HIL-duh | muh-TIL-duh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1921 (2,128) | 2025 (838) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 838 |
| Trend | Vintage | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Hilda | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 316 | 4,390 |
| 2010s | 448 | 5,241 |
| 2000s | 827 | 1,712 |
| 1990s | 1,362 | 486 |
| 1980s | 1,907 | 359 |
| 1970s | 2,582 | 620 |
| 1960s | 3,596 | 983 |
| 1950s | 6,303 | 1,179 |
| 1940s | 7,567 | 1,284 |
| 1930s | 9,454 | 2,033 |
| 1920s | 18,191 | 5,016 |
| 1910s | 15,674 | 5,293 |
| 1900s | 6,783 | 2,892 |
| 1890s | 4,732 | 3,249 |
| 1880s | 1,280 | 2,533 |
Built on the Germanic element 'hild' meaning 'battle'. It began as a short form of longer names such as Hildegard and Brunhild before becoming an independent name.
From the Germanic elements 'maht' (might, strength) and 'hild' (battle), giving the sense 'mighty in battle'. Popularized by the 11th-century Queen Matilda, wife of William the Conqueror.
Matilda is more popular than Hilda today: about 838 US babies were given the name Matilda in 2025, compared with 0 named Hilda.
Hilda means Battle (germanic origin), while Matilda means Battle-mighty (germanic origin).
In US records, Hilda first appears in 0 and Matilda in 1880, so Hilda has the longer recorded history.