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Hilda / Matilda

23 replies

tummytickler · 01/09/2009 09:07

Just a quickie really. Had a chat with dh last night and Hilda really is his very favourite name, i love it too, but am a bit moe open to other names also!
The thing that worries me about Hilda is that it may become mega popular like Matilda - after all they are similar sounding!
So is everyone who likes Matilda going to turn to Hilda instead?
Is Hilda going to become common/trendy off the back of Matilda (or indeed at all!)
Get your crystal balls out please!
Is Hilda going to become a bit too current/trendy.
Same question with regards to Mildred / Millie?

OP posts:
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MrsBadger · 01/09/2009 09:15

Most Millies I know that have a longer name are Millicents so I think Mildred is safe for the moment.

I don't think Hilda is going to make a comeback just yet eithr - the Ogden associations are still quite strong and it is short of good nicknames (all Matildas become Tilly or Matty - Hilly is not so good)

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BonsoirAnna · 01/09/2009 09:37

There is a little Millie at DD's school and it is short for Melissa, which I think is a little odd but not impossible, IYSWIM.

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spongebrainmaternitypants · 01/09/2009 09:39

I can't see Hilda ever coming back into fashion tbh!

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ShowOfHands · 01/09/2009 09:40

Our dd is Mathilda so could have been Hilda if she wanted instead of Tilly/Mattie/Maud etc. She chose the nickname Tilda.

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ReneRusso · 01/09/2009 09:55

I can't imagine Hilda or Mildred becoming trendy. But it's impossible to tell. Matilda is lovely and not at all common, is it?

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LyraSilvertongue · 01/09/2009 10:10

Hilda and Mildred are really ugly names. Sorry.

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MrsBadger · 01/09/2009 10:24

Matilda is getting more popular in the Madeleine / Tabitha type slihtyl-poncey areas IME

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Thunderduck · 01/09/2009 11:05

I think it's very unlikely that either Hilda or Mildred will become trendy. They are both awful.

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mumtojohn · 01/09/2009 11:37

God, you girls don't sit on the fence do you?

She wasn't asking you what you thought of the names, simply whether they might become very fashionable.

i think any name that isn't really popular is a good shout, if you like it. I would say you are safe with Hilda, to answer just your actual question.

We chose John for our DS; one of the most common names in the English speaking world, but weirdly you don't find many babies/young children with that name so we were really happy with it.

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EssieW · 01/09/2009 12:03

I love Hilda. Think it's a pretty name and do hope that it becomes more popular.

We would only use as second name though as have grandmother called Hilda.

If you love it, use it. I knew a girl called Hilda when at school - she really suited the name and didn't get negative comments.

Another nice name with similar sound is Hilary.

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edam · 01/09/2009 12:08

Ooh, I love Hilda. Ever since my fantastic great-aunt died last year, I've been wondering why it hasn't come back into fashion, when so many other old lady names have - Ivy is so popular now, for instance.

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bess23 · 01/09/2009 12:58

im sorry but dont like hilda, matilda yes.

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MaggieLeo · 01/09/2009 12:59

I think Zelda will make a come back before Hilda does!

Or maybe that is just my personal taste. I love Zelda and can't bear Hilda.

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nappyaddict · 01/09/2009 13:03

I love Mildred but the nickname Milly is very popular. Would Mimi or Illy work as a nickname instead?

Or how about Meredith - it's similar sounding?

I love Hilda and also Heidi.

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NadiaWadia · 01/09/2009 15:30

I am sorry but these are the associations I get from:

Hilda: hair in curlers, wrinkly stockings, ageing factory worker, fag in mouth (Ogden???)

Mildred - mean old lady and of course: - Mildew (ever read Fungus the Bogeyman?)

just Milly itself is lovely

Matilda - quite nice, medieval lady with wimple and sweeping gown

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Tidey · 01/09/2009 15:31

Much prefer Matilda.
I can't see Hilda becoming popular, I know a 90 yr old Hilda and she has always hated it.

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tummytickler · 01/09/2009 16:07

We are very confident in our choice of Hilda, so i am not too worried about negative opinions as we both think it is really pretty, and please do give opinions, but in my OP i asked if you think it could become popular off the back of Matilda (similar sound etc), those liking Tilda looking for something different iyswim.
We love Enid, but have dismissed it as it is short, sweet, and we think it might shoot up the charts Esme and Elsie stylee! This is what i mean in my op i guess - i already did a post yonks ago asking for opinions and they were most;ly negative - but we still love it!

OP posts:
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CommonNortherner · 01/09/2009 16:11

I can't see Hilda becoming too popular. I like it though, been growing on me because of Ugly Betty.

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said · 01/09/2009 16:20

I doubt very much Hilda will become (too) popular. It's a very ugly sound.

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Fawnie · 01/09/2009 16:21

By all means stand by your choice of name if you really love it.

the only Hilda I know is my mum and she hates it. growing up in the war with a German name wasn't a whole load of fun.

people sometimes mishear at introductions and she gets called Helen or Hilary for a while, which she much prefers!

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PuppyMonkey · 01/09/2009 16:23

Hilda won't become popular as it's horrid.

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oltob · 01/09/2009 17:25

I think it's the 3 syllable sing song sound that make Matilda, Madeline and Tabitha so popular and pretty. I don't think people considering those names would opt for Hilda instead, so don't see it taking off imo.

I think Hilda is very pretty in it's own right and if you are of the nn persuasion see nothing wrong with Hilly or more tenuously Heidi, but maybe that's just because I wanted to run around the hills in plaits with goats as a child!

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oltob · 01/09/2009 17:26

ps. the Millies I know are all short for Amelia. Fraid I don't like Mildred at all

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