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Matilda

Girl name · 857 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Matilda: 857 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 58 births in 2017.

From the Old German "Mahthiltis," meaning "mighty in battle," Matilda was brought to Britain by the Normans and became a firm favourite among medieval royalty. The most famous bearer was Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, whose fierce claim to the English throne sparked a bitter civil war. The name found new literary life in Roald Dahl's beloved bookworm heroine, Matilda Wormwood. In Australia, the name is forever tied to the folk song "Waltzing Matilda," which uses the term as a slang name for a traveller's pack or bedroll. The modern Scottish variant "Maitland" shares the same root, though the name itself has enjoyed a strong revival in recent decades across the UK.