Find out how popular the first name Matilde has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Matilde by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Matilde is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Matilde being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 49 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Matilde.

The history of the first name Matilde

The given name Matilde is of Germanic origin, derived from the old German root words "maht" meaning "might" or "strength" and "hild" meaning "battle." It first emerged in the Middle Ages as a feminine form of the male name Matthias or Matthew. The earliest recorded spelling variations include Mathilde, Mathild, and Mahthild.

The name Matilde gained widespread popularity across Europe during the medieval era, particularly in regions under Germanic cultural influence such as modern-day Germany, France, England, and parts of Italy. One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Matilda of Flanders (1031-1083), the wife of William the Conqueror and Queen consort of England.

In religious texts, the name appears in various hagiographies (biographies of saints) and church records. Saint Matilda of Hackeborn (1241-1298), a Cistercian nun from Saxony, was known for her mystical visions and wrote extensively on spiritual matters.

Throughout history, several prominent figures bore the name Matilde. Queen Matilda of England (1102-1167), the daughter of King Henry I, was a claimant to the English throne during the Anarchy, a civil war between her and Stephen of Blois. Matilda of Tuscany (1046-1115), a powerful Italian margravine, played a significant role in the Investiture Controversy between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.

In the arts, Matilde Serao (1856-1927) was an influential Italian novelist and journalist, known for her contributions to the Verismo literary movement. Matilde Camus (1919-2012), a French feminist and activist, was a key figure in the fight for women's rights and gender equality.

Other notable bearers of the name include Matilde Moisant (1878-1964), an American pioneer in aviation and one of the first women to obtain a pilot's license, and Matilde Montoya (1859-1939), a Mexican-American physician and the first Mexican-American woman to receive a medical degree in California.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Matilde was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Matilde, please contact us.

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