Maude

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAWD /ˈmɔd/High

Meaning: Medieval French form of Matilda — Germanic maht, 'might', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'High

In 30 seconds: One tough syllable of velvet: Maude is the medieval Matilda — 'mighty in battle' — worn by an empress who fought for England's crown. Vintage, spunky, and ripe for revival.

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Origin HighGermanic, French

MeaningMedieval French form of Matilda — Germanic maht, 'might', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'

U.S. rank (2025)#3367 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births46 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1888

Total births (all-time)≈ 45,754

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

Maude is the medieval French form of Matilda — Germanic maht, 'might, strength', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'. Empress Maude fought the Anarchy for England's crown; Tennyson's poem Maud and the cult film Harold and Maude kept it alive.

A Victorian favorite, it faded mid-century and now sits squarely in vintage-revival territory beside Mabel and Pearl. Rare, battle-mighty at the root, and stylishly antique.

Did you know? Empress Matilda, who waged a civil war for the English throne, was known in her own day as Maude — so this cozy-sounding name belongs to one of history's fiercest women.

Overall data confidence 88%

Behind the Name — Maud — etymology

Variations

MaudMatildaMathilde

Nicknames

Maudie

Famous Bearers

★Maude Adams (1872–1953)
American stage actress, the original Broadway Peter Pan.

If you like Maude…

Matilda— the full name behind it

Mabel— a fellow one-or-two-syllable vintage gem

Pearl— the companion antique revival name

Harriet— another spunky Victorian favorite

Explore names like Maude

By themevintage germanic medieval

By meaningStrength Warrior

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maude mean?

Maude is a medieval form of Matilda, Germanic for 'mighty in battle'.

How do you pronounce Maude?

It's said MAWD /ˈmɔd/ — a single syllable.

Is Maude a boy or girl name?

Maude is a girl's name.

How popular is Maude?

Maude is a rare vintage name in the U.S., ripe for revival.