Would you call your daughter Matilda...

[didot]

..when the father is Matthew nn Matt? Or is that a bit too Nigel/Nigella?

It's one of our faves but slightly worried how similar sounding they are - particularly if she was nicknamed Matty.

The only other nickname I know of for Matilda is Tilly which I'm not massively keen on either. Can anyone suggest any other nicknames, even if they're a bit more obscure? Or do you think we need to rethink our name choice completely?

I think Matilda is lovely and don't see a problem with a Matthew and Matilda combo for parent and child.

However I think the nicknames Matt and Matty are a bit too similar.

If you don't like Tilly there are not many options. Tilda or technically Maud I suppose. You might be able to use Milly but it's not common.

Many children have nicknames not directly related to their names but these often happen organically.

Matthew and Matilda have completely different origins/etymologies. Matilda's Germanic and Matthew is Hebrew/biblical. The stress falls differently too.

Tilda is a lovely shortening for Matilda. Or she could just go by her full name.

I actually didn't even see the link between the two names until you pointed it out. I think of them as totally different names ☺️Nickname would probably be Tilda I would have thought, which I think is lovely

Other than both names starting with M, I too didnt see any similarity! You can certainly have a Matilda with a Mathew father. I'm unsure though why you need to give her a nickname at all?

Yes definitely. She may not need a nickname. I'd usually use Matty, but pp suggestion of Milly is cute actually.

If you don't like Matty or Tilly I'd avoid Matilda. They're quite obvious nicknames and she might choose to go by them herself.

If you shorten it to Tilda then it will surely get shortened further to Tilly. If not by you then bu others.

They are fine together, but do bear in mind that it is a massively popular name. Dd has five friends called Tilly.

My Matilda is Tilda or Tilds for short but then she's also a cat

I think it's fine - the emphasis on Matilda is on the 'til' not 'mat'. It may get shortened to Tilly though. Having said that, I have an unusual, 3 syllable name, and it's rarely shortened - you don't have to have a nn.

My brand new niece is only a few days old and her name is Matilda it's beautiful

Great name! None of mine have nicknames that come from their names, my youngest is Minnie just because she’s little!

No I wouldn't. But I'm afraid I heartily dislike it as a name anyway. Its such a frumpy geriatric name. (Sorry)

I think it's fine - the emphasis on Matilda is on the 'til' not 'mat'. It may get shortened to Tilly though. Having said that, I have an unusual, 3 syllable name, and it's rarely shortened - you don't have to have a nn.

• I agree with this.

But if you want a nn (other than Matty and Tilly or Tilda) - then Millie, Mia, Tia, or even Mai (May) are possibilities.

I know a Matt and Matilda combo and never even considered it as an issue until I read this post!

We have a Matthew and a Natalie in our house. Matthew is called Matt, and we were a bit worried about the Matt/Nat similarities. However, Natalie became Tillie or Tills.

My DD will be calling her child Matilda if it's a girl, after the child's great grandmother (German descent) they will call her Tilly. I think both names are pretty.

We also have a cat named Matilda. My DCs call her Tilda for short.

I know a Matthew & Matilda family too. It's fine.

@VenusClapTrap

They are fine together, but do bear in mind that it is a massively popular name. Dd has five friends called Tilly.

Oh wow that's a lot! It's currently ranked 30 most popular which didn't seem massively high to me...I've avoided top 20 names as I've got a very common name and hated being "name/ surname initial" when I was growing up but sort of assumed we'd be ok outside of top 20.

@WildCherryBlossom @BatleyTownswomensGuild that's interesting to know that other families have been ok with the combo 😊

You could always got shorter -Tils rather than Tilly but if you really don’t like Tilly, not sure I’d go for the name

Great name btw

I used to like the name but as a pp says my DD knows several Tilly’s, I’ve been put off by having to learn (Tilly S not Tilly P etc etc)! Really popular name where I am (S England). Sorry!

Op if you combine all the Matildas, Mathildas and Tillys you’ll find the name ends up a lot higher than 30.

No they're not similar at all, but I wouldn't use Matilda because it is MASSIVELY overused. Agree, I know so many Tillys!