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Home › Baby Names Directory › Tillie

Tillie

♀ Girl

Pronounced TIL-ee /ˈtɪl.i/High

Meaning: Strength in battle; English pet form of Matilda or Ottilie, from Germanic Mahtildis (maht: strength + hild: battle)High

In 30 seconds: An English pet form of Matilda meaning 'strength in battle,' enjoying a sharp vintage revival alongside Millie, Nellie, and Hattie. The Edwardian freshness of Tillie makes it one of the most appealing grandma-chic choices.
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Origin HighGermanic, English
MeaningStrength in battle; English pet form of Matilda or Ottilie, from Germanic Mahtildis (maht: strength + hild: battle)
U.S. rank (2025)#1269 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births177 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1915
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,735

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191518802025

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

Tillie is an English diminutive of Matilda (Germanic Mahtildis: strength + battle) or Ottilie. Matilda was extremely popular in medieval England and among Victorian royalty. The -illie diminutive was common in 19th-century England.

Tillie peaked in the U.S. in the late 19th–early 20th century and is now reviving. It ranked #1236 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? William the Conqueror's wife was Matilda of Flanders (c.1031–1083) — and their son Henry I's wife was Matilda of Scotland. From these two medieval Matildas, the name Matilda/Tillie spread through the English nobility and became one of medieval England's most common women's names.
Overall data confidence 89%
Behind the Name — Tillie — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

TillyMatildaOttilie

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Tillie Olsen (1912-2007)
    American writer associated with second-wave feminist literature
  • ★Tillie Walden (1996-)
    American cartoonist and graphic novelist
  • ★Tillie Amartey (2003-)
    English actress and television presenter

If you like Tillie…

Millie— two-syllable -ie ending vintage name in the same revival wave
Nellie— two-syllable -ie ending vintage name from the same era
Hattie— two-syllable -ie ending vintage name enjoying the same revival
Billie— two-syllable -ie ending vintage name in the same tradition
Sadie— two-syllable vintage pet form in the same charming category

Explore names like Tillie

By themeenglishtwo-syllablegermanicdiminutivevintage-revival
By meaningStrengthWarrior

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tillie mean?

Tillie means 'strength in battle,' an English pet form of Matilda, from Germanic Mahtildis (maht: strength + hild: battle).

How do you pronounce Tillie?

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

Is Tillie a boy or girl name?

Tillie is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Tillie?

Tillie ranked #1236 for U.S. girls in 2024.

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