Tilda

♀ Girl

Pronounced TIL-dah /ˈtɪl.dɑ/High

Meaning: A pet form of Matilda — from the Germanic maht, 'might; strength', + hild, 'battle', hence 'mighty in battle'Low

In 30 seconds: Mighty in battle: Tilda is a pet form of Matilda. Crisp, classic, and warm.

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Origin LowGermanic

MeaningA pet form of Matilda — from the Germanic maht, 'might; strength', + hild, 'battle', hence 'mighty in battle'

U.S. rank (2025)#6806 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births17 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1924

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,040

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

Tilda is a pet form of Matilda — from the Germanic maht, 'might; strength', + hild, 'battle', hence 'mighty in battle'. A crisp, classic name (said 'TIL-dah').

In the U.S. and Scandinavia it appears as a pet form of Matilda. Rare in the U.S., mighty-in-battle at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Matilda joins the Germanic maht, 'might', and hild, 'battle', hence 'mighty in battle' — Tilda is a crisp pet form, classic and warm (said 'TIL-dah').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Matilda — pet form

Variations

MatildaTildeMathilda

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Tilda…

Matilda— the source name

Hilda— a fellow -ilda Germanic girls' name

Tillie— a kin pet form

Golda— a sound-neighbor -lda girls' name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tilda mean?

Tilda is a pet form of Matilda — Germanic 'mighty in battle'.

How do you pronounce Tilda?

It's said TIL-dah /ˈtɪl.dɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Tilda a boy or girl name?

Tilda is a girl's name.

How popular is Tilda?

Tilda is a rare name in the U.S.