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

Popularity of Tillie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Tillie is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 176 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Tillie.

The history of the first name Tillie

The name Tillie is a diminutive form of the feminine given name Matilda, which is derived from the Germanic name Mahthildis. Mahthildis is composed of two elements: "maht" meaning "might" or "strength," and "hild" meaning "battle." Thus, the name Tillie carries the meaning of "mighty in battle" or "strong fighter."

The name Matilda and its diminutive forms, such as Tillie, have been in use since the Middle Ages. It first gained popularity in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when it was introduced by the Norman nobility. The name Matilda was borne by several influential women, including Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, and Matilda of England, the daughter of King Henry I.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tillie can be found in the 14th century, when it was used as a nickname for Matilda. In the 16th century, the name Tillie gained wider usage and became a standalone given name in its own right.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tillie. One of the most famous was Tillie Olsen (1912-2007), an American writer and social activist known for her works depicting the struggles of working-class families. Another notable Tillie was Tillie Lewis (1896-1977), a vaudeville performer and one of the first African American women to achieve success on the Broadway stage.

Other notable Tillies include Tillie Hart (1892-1975), an American baseball player who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and Tillie the Toiler, the title character of a popular comic strip created by Russ Westover in 1919.

In addition, the name Tillie has been used by several fictional characters, such as Tillie the All-Time Teller in the children's book series "Tillie the Terrible Swede" by Max Axel Wiren, and Tillie Olsen, the protagonist of the novel "The Middle Window" by Gail Godwin.

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 Tillie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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