What do you think of this name?

[helpmepick]

So recently, for no reason, I've fallen in love with the name Matilda. I only have a few weeks until DD is here but I'm worried that it's not nice/ or is an 'old' name? What do you think?

Great name! Some good historical people with the name Matilda too.

Not keen. Very infantile sounding with contrived nn.

I like it. We have a niece with that name, known as Tilda. DSIL is an English teacher and named her after the Roald Dahl book apparently!

sounds silly/short-term trendy and immature to me

That's odd, because it's a very old name. It always makes me think of the Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I, who thought she should have become Queen of England when her father died, but her cousin Stephen seized the throne instead, and there was civil war for years and years. She never became queen, but as Stephen's son died in the war he agreed that Matilda's son Henry could become his heir, and that was Henry II, of Thomas a Becket fame. I read a children's play about this when I was very young and never got the story out of my head, and then in the 80s I read the Brother Cadfael crime stories by Ellis Peters, which were set at that time too. Fascinating era.

Anyway, I think Matilda is a great name. Good luck!

Wasn't that Maud gasp?

Lovely name. Also a teacher and never met one in nearly thirty years. None in dc's classes either.

Wasn't that Maud gasp?

Ah, sorry, my mistake; Google says they are the same person, known by both names! I read a book about her where she was always referred to as Maude (not Maud sorry).

Maud/Maude is another terrific name, Rockaby! Both Maud and Matilda are very strong names, not at all girly, to me anyway.

Awesome name.

Yep, love Maude too. Maude Gonne association as well as the empress.

Can I sell Maude to you op?

She once escaped from Oxford Castle dressed in white in the snow, or something along those lines. Another good strong historical Matilda was William the Conqueror's wife.

Gorgeous name.

Though don't like Tilly.

Matilda is nice.

Logolphin, yes! Great story.

I assume Tilda Swinton''s a Matilda. Very strong, individual character.

Matty is very cute!