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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Matilda or Tabitha

48 replies

looki · 29/01/2015 23:40

I'm torn - I love Tabitha but if I was going to be called one of them, I think I'd probably choose Matilda. Or would I really want to be named either of them?

Which do you prefer and why and which one would you like to be named if it was your own name?

OP posts:

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BrieAndChilli · 29/01/2015 23:57

I have a Matilda so that's my vote. She gets called tilda a lot as her friends couldn't say Matilda at first, I call her Tilly sometimes.
I could see tabitha being shorted to tabby which makes me think of a cat

Sophronia · 30/01/2015 00:19

Tabitha - it's less popular.

emotionsecho · 30/01/2015 00:21

I'd go for Matilda I've heard of too many cats called Tabitha.

ShadowSpiral · 30/01/2015 00:23

Matilda. Tabitha makes me think of cats.

GlitterKandinsky · 30/01/2015 00:30

Tabitha - just because it's a nicer

Original poster

looki · 30/01/2015 00:40

Thanks everyone for replying.

The cats association doesn't bother me. I abhor the nn Tilly and Tilda reminds me of the brand of rice.

OP posts:

Guin1 · 30/01/2015 02:01

Tabitha - more unusual and 'cooler'. I quite like the cat association!

jamiemars · 30/01/2015 05:17

Matilda is typically thought of as an old lady's name. It reminds me of moth balls. Since it is so ugly, it could actually be cool, though. Tabitha ... kind of goth, spooky, like a witch.
How about using one as a middle name and picking a prettier name for the first name? If you like old-sounding names ending with a, there's always Esmerelda. Millicent and Meredith come to mind. No idea why. How about Vanessa? It's kind of 80s. Contessa? Cornelia? (I had an Aunt Cornelia and we called her Aunt Corn.) Amanda? Sabrina, Samantha, Sahara, Glinda (the good witch). I've always loved the name Phaedra. It's the name of some goddess.

HearTheThunderRoar · 30/01/2015 05:25

Defiantly Matilda.

rootypig · 30/01/2015 05:31

Tabitha. Matilda for me is the wee girl in the book, I have never known a grown woman Matilda. Do they all disappear when they're thirteen? I'm not keen on the L and D sound together.

Benchmark · 30/01/2015 08:39

Tabitha is my favourite but I like both. Tabitha is more unusual.

ch1134 · 30/01/2015 09:15

Matilda. Tabitha is such an odd name. Not in a good way.

shakemysilliesout · 30/01/2015 09:20

If u hate the nick names Tilly and tilda please avoid Matilda! I like those nns and so do lots of others.

I prefer Matilda but I know loads of baby ones which puts me off. I don't know any old ones. I like nn tabs. I know 1 toddler tabitha and there was one on the batchelor- she got
To the final and suited her name
Nicely.

I second Vanessa actually.

What about Sheila/Sila.

Cupcakes123 · 30/01/2015 09:21

Matilda

shakemysilliesout · 30/01/2015 09:22

I also second Sabrina. Phaedra makes me think I'd geldoff

shakemysilliesout · 30/01/2015 09:22

Of geldoff

GoooRooo · 30/01/2015 09:25

Tabitha is on my list for a girl :) My mum wrinkled her nose and said it reminds her of the character off Bewitched but she'd have to get used to it! I quite like Tabby as a nickname too.

I know quite a few baby Matildas (mostly known as Tilly).

MajesticWhine · 30/01/2015 09:31

I have a Matilda and I love the name so I would go with that. She is not called Tilly. Tabitha is ok too.

Sarsparilla · 30/01/2015 09:39

I had both on my shortlist (though we were considering the spelling Mathilde for family reasons)

In the end we chose neither of them but I like both, obviously, though think I slightly prefer Matilda.

DH was not very keen on Tabitha, but he was quite enthusiastic about Mathilde. We would have had Matti for short - I agree about not liking Tilly.

BossWitch · 30/01/2015 09:43

Mathilde is much nicer. And matty is a cool nickname. Good choice OP!!

exWifebeginsat40 · 30/01/2015 09:54

I have a Tabitha so I'd say it's the best name! she's the only one in her high school and she loves it. Tabby for short...people tend to shut up about the 'cat' connection once the baby actually arrives!

ShadowSpiral · 30/01/2015 09:55

If you hate Tilly and Tilda I think you should avoid choosing Matilda.

squoosh · 30/01/2015 10:46

Tabitha is gorgeous.

Matilda is wet. And a bit overused at the moment.

Footle · 30/01/2015 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Showy · 30/01/2015 10:58

I have a Mathilda. This thread shows how different we all are. The same name described as wet, old lady and ugly. Others love it. IME, most people see it as a strong name. It means mighty in battle and is the name of a British infantry tank. It isn't overused really if you look at the stats. It peaked about 7 years ago. Tilly is more popular and I know several people who gave the full name Matilda with the intention to only use Tilly so the stats aren't as representative as you think. There are no other Matildas in our local 3 schools or preschools. For overused, look at Olivia or Ella. There are more than 10 of each in our local schools.

I dislike Tilly too. Dd is Tild or Tank.

Tabitha is lovely too. Cats schmats.

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