Home › Baby Names Directory › Clotilde
Clotilde
Pronounced kloh-TEELD /kloʊˈtiːld/Medium
Meaning: Clotilde comes from the Germanic elements 'hlod', 'fame, glory', and 'hild', 'battle', giving 'renowned in battle'. It was borne by Saint Clotilde, the Frankish queen who helped convert her husband Clovis to Christianity, and it passed into French use.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Clotilde is a Germanic name from hlod, 'fame', and hild, 'battle' — 'renowned in battle'. Its prestige comes from Saint Clotilde, the sixth-century Frankish queen who married Clovis I and is remembered for bringing him to the Christian faith, after which the name stayed current in French royal and noble families.
In America Clotilde was always a rarity, carried mostly by families of French heritage and most visible in the early twentieth century — only a few dozen girls a year. It keeps a stately, Old-World formality; it has not revived in English-speaking use, remaining a name that signals French or continental roots more than current fashion.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Clotilde Courau (1969–present)French actress and, by marriage, Princess of Venice and Piedmont.
If you like Clotilde…
Explore names like Clotilde
Frequently Asked
What does the name Clotilde mean?
Clotilde is a Germanic name meaning 'renowned in battle', borne by the Frankish queen-saint Clotilde.
How do you pronounce Clotilde?
It's said kloh-TEELD /kloʊˈtiːld/ — two syllables, stress on the last.
Is Clotilde a boy or girl name?
Clotilde is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Clotilde?
Clotilde has always been rare in the U.S., a stately French name most seen among families of French heritage.