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