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Home › Baby Names Directory › Mafalda

Mafalda

♀ Girl

Pronounced mah-FAHL-duh /mɑˈfɑl.də/High

Meaning: Mafalda is the Italian and Portuguese form of Matilda, from Old Germanic maht ('might, strength') and hild ('battle') — 'mighty in battle.' It was borne by medieval and modern royalty of Italy, Portugal and Spain.Medium

In 30 seconds: Mafalda is the Italian form of Matilda, 'mighty in battle' (said 'mah-FAHL-duh') — a royal Old-World name.
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Origin MediumGermanic, Italian
MeaningMafalda is the Italian and Portuguese form of Matilda, from Old Germanic maht ('might, strength') and hild ('battle') — 'mighty in battle.' It was borne by medieval and modern royalty of Italy, Portugal and Spain.
U.S. rank (1937)#2265 ↗ Rising
1937 U.S. births14 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1925
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,279

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192519021937

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

Mafalda is the Italian and Portuguese version of Matilda, from Germanic maht, 'might,' and hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle.' Carried by medieval Iberian royalty and by Princess Mafalda of Savoy, it reached American records with early Italian immigrant families. It appeared from around 1902, peaked in 1925, and had largely disappeared by 1937 as that immigrant cohort's naming shifted.

A girl named Mafalda in 1925 would be turning a hundred, a name tied to the great wave of Italian immigration. Outside Italy it stayed rare and then vanished, so today it reads as a distinctly European heirloom; English speakers may need the 'mah-FAHL-duh' guide, and its 'mighty in battle' meaning links it to Matilda, Imelda and Griselda.

Did you know? Mafalda was a name of queens and princesses: Princess Mafalda of Savoy was a daughter of the Italian king, which kept the name prominent in early-twentieth-century Italy.
Overall data confidence 75%
References — Mafalda — Italian/Portuguese form of Matilda (maht+hild, 'mighty in battle')

Variations

MatildaMahautMafalde

Nicknames

MafaAlda

Famous Bearers

  • ★Mafalda of Savoy (1902–1944)
    Italian princess, a daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III, who died in wartime captivity.

If you like Mafalda…

Matilda— the parent name Mafalda translates
Imelda— a like Italian/Iberian -elda name
Griselda— a same-era Germanic-rooted -elda name
Aida— a similarly popular pick
Gricelda— echoes that soft -da sound

Explore names like Mafalda

By themeitalianstrengthroyalgermanic-rootimmigrant-era

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mafalda mean?

Mafalda is the Italian and Portuguese form of Matilda, meaning 'mighty in battle.'

How do you pronounce Mafalda?

It's said mah-FAHL-duh /mɑˈfɑl.də/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Mafalda a boy or girl name?

Mafalda is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Mafalda?

Mafalda was a rare immigrant-era name in the U.S. that peaked in the nineteen-twenties and soon faded.

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