Matilda — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Matilda is a girls' name of Germanic origin, meaning "mighty in battle". Roald Dahl's brilliant bookworm gave this mighty old name its modern brainy-chic image.

Style & feel. With vintage and literary on its style card, Matilda sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 3 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Matilda pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Harriet, Josephine share its sound-world). If you like Matilda, you'll probably also love Harriet, Josephine, Eleanor — same era, same energy, same bone structure.