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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Matilda - just how popular is it?

37 replies

CurwySwide · 17/08/2011 08:59

I have loved this name for years - it has become more popular recently and is now in the middle or thereabouts of the top 100 girls' names charts and the most common response to it on this board is that is 'too popular/faddy' etc.

I don't know any Matildas at all - how many do you know if you don't mind me asking? Thank you!

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Haberdashery · 18/08/2011 20:30

I know a few. One Matilda, one Mathilda, one Mathilde and a Tilly (who was named that and not Matilda). All are between four and seven.

PrincessScrumpy · 18/08/2011 20:27

I know a Tilly (Matilda) who is 5 months old. It was a name we liked but I was 3 months pg when my friend chose the name for her dd. Matilda is now going to be dd2's middle name. Love it though.

Giselle99 · 18/08/2011 19:20

I know 2 - one is 2, the other is 37...

Original poster
CurwySwide · 17/08/2011 23:03

Ooh - quite a lot of favourable responses - great thanks!

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 17/08/2011 22:58

I only know 2, one aged 8 and one aged 4.

I do know a 12 year old Tilly but I believe she was Christened Tilly.

TrompetteMilitaire · 17/08/2011 22:20

I know several. Two are known as Matty, which isn't an abbreviation I'd choose.

EveryonesJealousOfWeasleys · 17/08/2011 22:18

I have an 18mo Mathilda - other kids always naturally shorten it to Tilda - which I like as it is closest to her given name, whereas Tilly or Mattie sound completely different.

I have only ever met one other Mathilda who was around the same age as DD.

KikiRC · 17/08/2011 22:10

I know one aged three, one aged about 15 and one in her mid-late thirties.

There was a girl at school called Mathilde, the French version, which I always thought was a lovely name.

vividgingerchilli · 17/08/2011 22:07

I know of one, but it was a sheep - nicknamed Tilly.
I've never come across one in any of the schools I've worked in - about 6 schools over 15 years.

notlettingthefearshow · 17/08/2011 22:05

I know 1 Matilda.

WanderingSheep · 17/08/2011 22:05

I don't know any and I don't think I've ever met a Matilda, or Tilly come to think of it

I'm in the North West

If you love it then go for it Smile

SaulGood · 17/08/2011 22:01

It's going back down the charts now. I have always said I'd have a Matilda, since being very young. There are Matildas in my family going back a couple of hundred years so don't feel it's faddy at all.

DD is the only Matilda in her large primary school and there were none at her preschool either. Actually, never met another one. She's a Tilda though, can't abide Tilly.

CarrieOakey · 17/08/2011 22:00

I know one - my beautiful 10 month old niece. It's a lovely name Smile

LifeOfKate · 17/08/2011 21:58

PS, I clicked on this thread because I LOVE the name Matilda but DH has vetoed :( So please please use it, if only for me :o

LifeOfKate · 17/08/2011 21:57

That's very true, Gleek. We're at school for a relatively short amount of time, so it shouldn't really matter. I do also think that we choose names from a much larger pool now than we used to, so the worry that there will be 20 other kids in the same class is less relevant too as there are more names used overall. People were very 'safe' when naming babies in previous generations.

Gleek · 17/08/2011 21:44

I live in Surrey/SW London and have one, she's almost 3 and a half. None at her nursery or other groups we attend, I do know of one other Matilda and she is about 10months old but doesn't live locally.

I think you just have to go for a name you like, it's really only school years where it can become obvious if a name is very popular. Once you're at work (most of your life!) you're with such a wide range of ages I think it becomes completely irrelevant.

Original poster
CurwySwide · 17/08/2011 21:39

Thanks all - really appreciate it.

LifeofKate - that is so true actually - I don't know any little boys called Jack or Oliver but there must be a lot of them somewhere!

OP posts:
LifeOfKate · 17/08/2011 21:36

I've never met or heard about one, except on here, I live in the east midlands. That's the thing about popularity lists, every second child could be called Matilda in one area and absolutely none in another. Olivia is the top name at the moment and I've also never met one. On the other hand, Georgia is in the 50s in the charts and I know 2 under the age of 1.

redglow · 17/08/2011 19:21

I have come across three and I think it is a lovely name I like delilah too.

hollyw · 17/08/2011 17:16

My friend has just called her daughter Matilda and I know of one other on another forum

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 17/08/2011 13:45

I don't know any (norfolk) but do have a Tilly myself.

PippiLongBottom · 17/08/2011 13:42

I am in Manchester and know five, all under age five. It was my 2nd choice namefor dd who is 9. We went with Madeleine. I hate to say it but the name is crossing all class demographics now.

SaffronCake · 17/08/2011 13:30

I've never met one. My DD age 11 says she's come across 2, but one uses Tilly.

Original poster
CurwySwide · 17/08/2011 12:54

Thanks all for your responses. I don't mind that it's not 'different' - and at no. 53 on the ONS charts it's not actually that 'common' either. It's just a great name!

Chocolocolate - go for it - and good luck for November!

OP posts:
CharlieBoo · 17/08/2011 12:33

It's popular where I am (bucks), but if popular doesn't bother you then go for it. It's just not different anymore.

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