Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Is Matilda too faddy?

34 replies

northconway · 02/09/2018 15:51

Dp and I both love the name Matilda, but I’ve seen comments on here that it’s a bit faddy and of the moment. Do you think it will date and become firmly linked with the 2010s, like Nicola is with the 1970s and Chloe is with the 1990s?

We also like Althea, Madeleine, Tabitha, Emily and Susanna.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AtticaRose · 02/09/2018 16:16

Fwiw, I love it too, and I don't find it too faddy! I think it's almost the opposite - it was a popular classic for the whole 19th and part of the 20th century, but then had a (relatively brief) period of falling out of favour, before returning in the mid to late 90s. I don't know how popular it was before the C19th - but crops up a lot in mediaeval/early modern times too.

I think it's a name strongly associated with royalty, as are many other so-called "classic" and "timeless" names, but with a more marked dip in the 1950s-1990s than some of the others. So it's more a return to form than a fad. :-)

But that's just my read of the stats! Others will have other perspectives of course.

Dontletthebastardsgrindyoudown · 02/09/2018 16:18

Chloe's a beautiful name I don't think of it as faddy. Go for Matilda is lovely

Itsear · 02/09/2018 17:16

By that definition 85% of girls name are faddy unfortunately. Matilda is ‘in’ at the moment and it will be ‘out’ in 10-15 years, it is similar to Florence in that respect. Go for it, what else do you like?

RavenWings · 02/09/2018 17:18

Yes, I think it will date. But the thing with faddy names is that when people meet your dd, they'll have an idea of her age anyway. It's not like naming her Gertrude or something else unfashionable will cloak that.

She will be one of a small horde, but if that doesn't bother you there's nothing wrong with it.

Itsear · 02/09/2018 17:21

Also want to add that I love Susannah and I don’t think that it will date because it has never been wildly popular.

MollyHuaCha · 02/09/2018 17:27

I love Tabitha and Susannah.

Flamingosnbears · 02/09/2018 17:46

No it won't date and it's not faddy it's a beautiful historic name.
Unfortunately that can't be said for all names...

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/09/2018 17:48

Matilda is nice. I love Madeleine, Tabitha, Madeleine too.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/09/2018 17:48

Sorry Susanna too!

Sophronia · 02/09/2018 19:23

I prefer Susanna.

amy85 · 02/09/2018 19:26

I have a Matilda!!! Fabulous name imo...I don't think it's faddy at all..

hiptobeasquare · 02/09/2018 19:30

I considered Matilda, but I thought it was too popular.I went with Anne Margaret in the end as I haven’t met any baby called Anne. :)

hiptobeasquare · 02/09/2018 19:30

I love Susanna though!

IHaveBrilloHair · 02/09/2018 19:32

I think it is but I love it, I named one of my cats it as I wasn't having anymore children.

Mishappening · 02/09/2018 19:32

Matilda is lovely - be prepared for her to be Tilly!

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 02/09/2018 19:34

I know people in nearly every decade called Matilda. Sure, it's having a bit of a moment at the moment, but I certainly don't think it's faddy.

I'm not remotely biased .

Trampire · 02/09/2018 19:37

I only know one Matilda (nn Tilda) and she's 12.

I wouldn't consider it 'faddy'. One of the oldest, coolest Queens if the Dark Ages we never quite had was called Matilda.

If you like it, use it. I have a Harry who's 11. We wanted it after a deceased grandfather of mine, (and also one of my Husband film idols!). At the time we were well aware it was really popular. We went all around in circles trying to choose names we didn't quite like as much but were less popular. In the end, we just thought fuck it.

Yes, there were 2 others at his school, they'll be more at Secondary. I really don't care. He is who he is and it suits him. I'm glad we stuck with it.

daisypond · 02/09/2018 20:22

I think it's having a moment, certainly, but all names go in and out of fashion. I don't think it's a timeless, classic name, though. A Victorian revival of a medieval name - and now it's in its second revival - helped along by the Roald Dahl musical, no doubt. The Matildas I know are now approaching 20, so I would expect babies being named it now are at the tail end of the curve, perhaps, I'm not sure. I like Madeleine and Susanna much more.

PetraRabbit · 02/09/2018 20:37

It's classic but yes, it will be associated with girls born in the late 2010s. It's not on a par with Lily or Nicola though as it's very much the second tier of popularity. I have to say Susanna is great though. Very underused these days, and a sweet girlish name and works well on a grown woman. I'd avoid Madeleine. It is associated with girls of around 10 years old now, which means you'd be giving your daughter a name that ages her 10 years.

PetraRabbit · 02/09/2018 20:39

Also, I correctly predicted Prince Louis' name and if they have another daughter I think Matilda is a really really likely choice....if that bothers you.

Zigazagazoo · 02/09/2018 20:42

It probably is a wee bit faddy but so what?! Most names date in some way or another. Choose it because you like it now.

MajesticWhine · 02/09/2018 20:44

Matilda is a classic name dating back several centuries. Quite popular at the moment but not faddy. I like your other names too, especially Emily.

Sandstormbrewing · 02/09/2018 21:03

I have to say that when DS was a baby (he's now 2.5) I once semi-joked that if I couldn't remember a baby girls name I should just call her Matilda as it was really that common - there were 3 in one baby group (of about 15 kids).

It's a lovely name, but very very common where we are.

ourkidmolly · 02/09/2018 21:17

Lovely name and I think you’d be insane if you were put off it by the faint chance that one of Prince William’s future daughters will be named it. I think that’s highly unlikely actually.

ourkidmolly · 02/09/2018 21:19

It’s also only 354 in popularity so really can really be that common.

Flip

1 2