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.