Just how popular is Matilda..?

[legallyblond]

DH and I are decided on Matilda (which is a miracle, as we couldn't agree on any names until we found Matilda!).

It won't put me off it at all (as I said, we've decided!) but I just wondered how popular it actually is..

I don't know any and nor do people I have mentioned it to, but its fairly popular on here I see. Its hard to tell... I suspect it will be a big riser in the rankings next time they come out (or when the 2010 names are published), but surely its not in the same league as Ruby, Ella, Mia, Isabella et al yet is it?

[blowninonabreeze]

I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old.

My 4 year old doesn't have any Mtaildas amongst her friends.

My 2 year old knows 3.

As you say I think its had a relatively recent surge in popularity

[PlumBumMum]

I love Matilda, don't know any and haven't heard of any, but as you say I suspect its on the up & coming list

[pitterpatterfeet]

I know 3 Matilda's under 1. Think it has become v.popular

[Whelk]

Very popular. But lovely.

[skidoodly]

Quite popular, esp with nn Tilly

Tilda or Matty much nicer if you must use a nn

[SE13Mummy]

I know of two 5-year-old Matildas.

[flopsy1974]

Matilda is lovely but is very popular at the moment. We have chosen Martha if our yellow bump is a girl. Similar name but no where near (I hope) as popular. At least not yet.

[zozzle]

I know 4

Not too keen sorry

[rachel234]

I know three Matildas under the age of 5 (in Surrey), it has definately shot up in popularity.

It is a nice name, but often names that become very popular quickly can also feel 'dated' quickly, just like fashion. Already I find the name Tilly a little too 'common' (in terms of popular) tbh.

[rachel234]

Tilda is a nice nickname that you don't hear that often. I'd use that.

[Pidgin]

Matilda is a lovely name. I don't know how popular it is - therefore no help to your question - but I reckon it's a classic anyway. I would use it if it didn't clash with surname!

[FrazzleRock]

I know one nearly 5 year old Matilda known as Tilda

[5DollarShake]

I know of one - 16mo.

[doodlexyz]

The only one I know of is my own, who is 2yrs next week. There are no Matilda's at my DD1 and DS1's school, and none at the pre-school my friends DD goes too.

We use the nickname Tilda

[legallyblond]

Thanks everyone! Like I said, the popularity won't put me off - we are both 100% decided (although maybe we'll change our minds when we see her!)

We have always planned to use the nn Tilda. She can use Matty or Tilly if she wants when she is older of course!

I always think that even with the popular names, its really only a few in every hundred who have the name, so if you LOVE it, use it!!! I just wondered if Matilda really was going to go the way of Ella, Grace, Ruby etc.... I can't see it somehow but we shall see!

[ellesabe]

I know three

[florence2511]

I have a Matilda and she will be 4 in September. We thought we were being original in our choice of name especially as I wanted to name my first born daughter Matilda from when I first read the Roald Dahl book when I was about 7. But when I was in delivery the Anaethetist giving me my epidural told me that this was the fourth Matilda born this week! Bet there were more Ruby's, Evie's, Ella's though.

It is a gorgeous name and we have no regrets. Our Matilda is generally known as Tilly though sometimes Tills and sometimes Tilda.

[Adair]

It's fairly popular but lovely .

Glad it's not going to put you off. Dd's name is pretty unheard of (Aphra), yet last year we met another one in our local park the same age .

[ShowOfHands]

I too picked Mathilda for any future dd after reading Roald Dahl's book (wrote and told him and everything!). Am a bit miffed it's become so popular though. Mine is a Tilda and is just 3. There were 3 baby Matildas on our antenatal/postnatal thread on MN.

The other girl's name I've had picked forever is on the up and up too.