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Tilley

♀ Girl

Pronounced TIL-ee /ˈtɪl.i/High

Meaning: -ey spelling of Tilly — a pet form of Matilda, from Germanic maht, 'might', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'Medium

In 30 seconds: Mighty in battle: Tilley pets Matilda — 'mighty in battle' — with an -ey. Sweet, vintage, and warm.

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Origin MediumGerman

Meaning-ey spelling of Tilly — a pet form of Matilda, from Germanic maht, 'might', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'

U.S. rank (2025)#4449 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births32 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 261

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

Tilley is an -ey spelling of Tilly — a pet form of Matilda, from Germanic maht, 'might', plus hild, 'battle' — 'mighty in battle'. A sweet, vintage nickname-name; the -ey styling personalizes it.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, mighty-in-battle at the root, and sweet.

Did you know? Matilda means 'mighty in battle' (Germanic maht + hild) — Tilley is a sweet -ey pet form of Tilly; vintage and charming.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name — Matilda — root etymology

Variations

TillyTillieMatilda

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Tilley…

Tilly— the standard spelling

Tillie— a fellow spelling

Matilda— the full name

Millie— another vintage -ie girls' name

Explore names like Tilley

By themevintage nickname-name german

By meaningStrength Warrior

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Tilley mean?

Tilley pets Matilda — Germanic 'mighty in battle'.

How do you pronounce Tilley?

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

Is Tilley a boy or girl name?

Tilley is a girl's name.

How popular is Tilley?

Tilley is a rare name in the U.S.