| Hildegard | Matilda | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Battle guard | Battle-mighty |
| Origin | germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | HIL-duh-gard | muh-TIL-duh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1915 (81) | 2025 (838) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 838 |
| Trend | Vintage | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Hildegard | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 94 | 4,390 |
| 2010s | 52 | 5,241 |
| 2000s | 0 | 1,712 |
| 1990s | 0 | 486 |
| 1980s | 0 | 359 |
| 1970s | 6 | 620 |
| 1960s | 42 | 983 |
| 1950s | 93 | 1,179 |
| 1940s | 108 | 1,284 |
| 1930s | 276 | 2,033 |
| 1920s | 436 | 5,016 |
| 1910s | 483 | 5,293 |
| 1900s | 219 | 2,892 |
| 1890s | 130 | 3,249 |
| 1880s | 6 | 2,533 |
From Germanic 'hild' (battle) and 'gard' (enclosure, protection), roughly 'protector in battle'. Borne by the 12th-century abbess and polymath Hildegard of Bingen.
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 Hildegard today: about 838 US babies were given the name Matilda in 2025, compared with 0 named Hildegard.
Hildegard means Battle guard (germanic origin), while Matilda means Battle-mighty (germanic origin).
In US records, Hildegard first appears in 0 and Matilda in 1880, so Hildegard has the longer recorded history.