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Baby names

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

Original poster

Matilda

78 replies

MissingMyHeels · 18/01/2008 22:10

This is a name I have always liked and have only realised it's increasing popularity since using MN. We already refer to the bump as Tilly so will probably struggle to change it now but I always wanted a name that was bit different!

How many do you know?

All the names I like seem to be pretty popular so I obviously completely lack imagination. So also, how BAD is it to have a very popular name?

Sorry if this has been done before, it's been a long week so haven't spent time searching the archive.

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Tigerschick · 18/01/2008 22:12

I taught a Matilda a while ago. She was known as Tilly.
I love it but Dh vetoed.
If you like it, go for it

brimfull · 18/01/2008 22:12

I love it.

Prefer matilda to tilly.

Artichokes · 18/01/2008 22:16

I love it. 'Tus DD's middle name. Wish it wasn't so we could still use it for any future DDs.

Can be shortened to:

Tilly
Milly
Tilda
Maud (the traditional diminutive)

Califrau · 18/01/2008 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ruddynorah · 18/01/2008 22:19

love it. i have one

don't like tilly though.

ComeOVeneer · 18/01/2008 22:20

DS goes to nursery with a Matilda. I think it is a lovely very english name. Funnily enough had ds been a girl it was on our shortlist of names.

edam · 18/01/2008 22:20

I do like Matilda. Very pretty but not too frilly and simpering. And a long and honourable history (our first Queen who actually ruled in her own right... although she did have a little local difficulty with her cousin Stephen).

Artichokes, I thought Maud was an alternative form of Matilda, not a diminutive? Queen Matilda is usually down as Maud/Matilda in the history books.

Original poster
MissingMyHeels · 18/01/2008 22:20

I love the name Matilda but I think Tilly is so cute for a little baby/girl. Hadn't thought about Maud and Tilda, really like them as a shortened version too.

I think we will just go for it, it is just ruining my arguement for it in the first place. I battled against Lily as it was too popular!!

OP posts:
Izzybel · 18/01/2008 22:21

I don't know any Matildas. Never used to like it but it has grown on me. Think Tilly is so cute though!

Shitemum · 18/01/2008 22:23

I know a Matilda in her mid-30s and one who's 4. I had it on my shortlist for DD2, to be known as Tilda, but it means something silly in Spanish and we live in Spain so....

tictacto · 18/01/2008 22:25

Oh yes lots here Hampshire we know 6 or 7 my children are all under 5

It's still lovely but will be the Jo/Catherine/sarah of the 2020's

Beauregard · 18/01/2008 22:26

Love it
Was on my list of names

Izzybel · 18/01/2008 22:26

I don't think that there's anything wrong with having a popular name. It's only popular because people like it which, imo is better than having an unusual name that everyone hates!

hellish · 18/01/2008 22:28

I'm not sure if having a popular name is a problem or not. I don't think it bothers the children, they seem to like having the same name as others in their class.

My dds' both have names that became v popular just after they were born ( not as original as I thought :-) )

BUT I solved the problem by moving to Canada where noone has the same name as them and I am wonderfully original and cool.

Original poster
MissingMyHeels · 18/01/2008 22:28

I have the feeling there will be a fair few in Surrey too. Seems to be a fairly London/Home Counties name at the minute. I think you're right about having a popular name, it's better than having an awful one just because it's different.

DP vetoed Trixie

OP posts:
PeckaRolloverAgain · 18/01/2008 22:29

i have a 15 day old mathilda!

love it and she is only one i know

kiskidee · 18/01/2008 22:29

i would veto trixie too, i am afraid.

cinnamontam · 18/01/2008 22:30

My DD is a Matilda therefor you can't have it!!

kiskidee · 18/01/2008 22:30

i like mathilda and mathide (matilde in spanish) too as well as maud.

kiskidee · 18/01/2008 22:31

i meant mathilde

moljam · 18/01/2008 22:32

i have a cousin called matilda (she gets shortened to tilde)and another cousins daughter is mathilde (she gets shortened to matty)which i love!

kiskidee · 18/01/2008 22:32

Tilda is also used as the name of a brand of Basmati rice.

cinnamontam · 18/01/2008 22:35

We call her Tilda or Tild

lucyellensmum · 18/01/2008 23:39

We were going to call our DD matilde, but didnt want to shorten it to tilde and felt we would. We went with lucy, as that name descended on me one day and i said to DP, the babies name is lucy! It is quite a popular name, i dont have a problem with that, it is an old name and i like that. St lucy is the patron saint of light.

I chose Rebecca for DD1, i thought that was an unusual but traditional name, turned out to be the most popular name of that year, there were five others in her year at school!

I like Tilly as a diminutive, it sounds romantic.

Whooosh · 18/01/2008 23:42

Love,love,love the name Matilda-unfortunately I have a rhyming surname so would have been ridiculous...
However,still very happy with our eveintual (non rhyming) choice as is still relatively rare.

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