| Matilda | Griselda | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Battle-mighty | Grey battle-maid |
| Origin | germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | muh-TIL-duh | grih-ZEL-duh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2025 (838) | 1993 (307) |
| In 2025 | 838 | 0 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Vintage |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Matilda | Griselda |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 4,390 | 266 |
| 2010s | 5,241 | 489 |
| 2000s | 1,712 | 1,227 |
| 1990s | 486 | 2,299 |
| 1980s | 359 | 2,231 |
| 1970s | 620 | 1,703 |
| 1960s | 983 | 550 |
| 1950s | 1,179 | 208 |
| 1940s | 1,284 | 77 |
| 1930s | 2,033 | 41 |
| 1920s | 5,016 | 23 |
| 1910s | 5,293 | 5 |
| 1900s | 2,892 | 5 |
| 1890s | 3,249 | 0 |
| 1880s | 2,533 | 0 |
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.
From the Germanic elements 'gris' (grey) and 'hild' (battle). Widely known from the patient-wife tale retold by Boccaccio and Chaucer.
Matilda is more popular than Griselda today: about 838 US babies were given the name Matilda in 2025, compared with 0 named Griselda.
Matilda means Battle-mighty (germanic origin), while Griselda means Grey battle-maid (germanic origin).
In US records, Matilda first appears in 1880 and Griselda in 0, so Griselda has the longer recorded history.