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Rilda
Pronounced RIL-duh /ˈrɪl.də/Medium
Meaning: Rilda is best read as a clipped form of names ending in -rilda, chiefly Matilda, from Germanic 'maht' (might) and 'hild' (battle), giving 'mighty in battle'. It also echoes Casilda and Zerilda, making it a small, sound-based name lifted from a longer whole.Low
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
Rilda most plausibly comes from the -rilda ending of Matilda, a Germanic name meaning 'mighty in battle', or from cousins like Casilda. Clipping a strong ending into a short given name was a real early-twentieth-century habit.
It was never common, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its 1924 peak, and it faded from records by around 1960. A girl named Rilda then belongs to a great-grandmother's generation now, and the name has stayed a rarity.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Rilda mean?
It is most likely a short form of Matilda, from Germanic roots meaning 'mighty in battle', or of a cousin like Casilda.
How do you pronounce Rilda?
It is said RIL-duh /ˈrɪl.də/ - two syllables.
Is Rilda a boy or girl name?
Rilda is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Rilda?
It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak in the mid-nineteen-twenties.