Mathilda - too common?

[namestasher]

Love the name Mathilda, but concerned it's the new Olivia.
(Nightmarishly common)
If I name one of our soon-to-be daughters Mathilda, will she be faced with seven other Mathilda's in her class when she goes to school?
It's a great name, but is it just too overdone?
If so, any recommendations for alternatives? Thanks!

I’m reading a book by Alison Weir called Queens of the Conquest at the moment, about three Queen Matildas, one who was married to William the Conqueror, her goddaughter & the goddaughter’s daughter - all pretty amazing women by the sound of it, if that helps.

My grandmother was Matilda, and she was born in 1910, maybe there were several in her class!

The highest number of 'same names' I've ever had as a primary teacher is two, so I wouldn't worry about it. I went to school with several Rachels, Alisons, Melanies, Claires, Sarahs etc. It just is what it is, pick a name because you like it.

I just started a new job and a colleague has the same name as me, and it's pretty unusual! There are multiple Emmas, Lauras, Stephens, Emilys, James on the staff.

Common names now are much less common than they were because people pick a greater variety of names now. In 2022 Matilda was #29 with 1363 born in England and Wales. For comparison Olivia was still #1 with 3289 born. One thing is most people don't spell it with the h (like under 30 births) so I'd think about if you want her to be always correcting people or not. But it's a lovely name and if you love it I'd go for it.

The highest number of 'same names' I've ever had as a primary teacher is two, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I’ve had classes with 4/5 with the same name in!

Matilda is a gorgeous name-I love it. I wouldn’t spell it with the ‘h’ though, personally.

As a 'nightmarishly common' Olivia, with a Matilda of my own..Mathilda isn't too popular/common/nightmarish a name. If you like it, it's ok to use it. Popular names are obviously popular for a reason.

No. I know lots of little people and only one Matilda. No Matildas in our school. Mathilda with an H might be a pain though.

About ten years ago it felt like every girl I knew was a Matilda, felt very overdone.

She’ll probably end up working with a lot of them in adult life. I have a popular 80s name and my god there are bloody loads of us now I’m an adult yet there was only one other in my year.

Its not a name I like personally. And I can’t stand Tillie which is also used as a stand alone name.

My children are older but I know more “Millie” names - Millie. Emilia, Emily… than Tillies and Matildas.

If you are in the UK I think that most people would assume no h but that might not bother you.

Highly unlikely @namestasher . She might be one of two or three in a class or she might be the only one in the school. You can't tell.

The spelling is usually Matilda.

I wouldn’t say it’s too common no. I know 2. I wouldn’t even say Olivia was that common, compared to popular names when I was young. You’re looking at 3000-4000 ish per year for the most popular name now vs 10-15000ish back then. You might still get muitlples but there are 16,000 schools in England (for example), so with 3000 Olivia’s there are many school years without one. And even more without a Matilda!

I think Matilda has had its peak. There's two in my daughter's year 3 class so they're 7/8 years old but I think the trend has already peaked.

I don’t think it’s too common. And some will be Tilly or Mattie day to day which can differentiate if there’s more than one.

Matilda is great, but can’t stand Tilly. Doesn’t help that it rhymes with Silly.

Matilda isn't that common.

I know more Florence's and Charlotte's.

Btw most people will spell it "Matilda" in the UK so really think about the spelling if you go with that name.

I think matilda has peaked as well. Nowadays I come across lots of Islas, Ava’s and Evie’s

I like it. Go for it OP.

“nightmarishly common” what a rude thing to say about a person’s name!

It’s been steadily popular for years. At least the last 25. So not enough of a spike to be time stamped as trendy, but a steady drip drip.

Lots of possible nick names: Tilly, Tilda, Matty, Maude, etc.

I would definitely spell with an H. For me, that is the correct spelling going back to its roots. Brunhilda, Clothilda, Mathilda, etc.

If you spell it Mathilda she will constantly have her name misspelled throughout her life.

I know one child aged about 8 who has it as a middle name.
(well two if you count Gordon Ramsay's daughter and she's about 20 now I think).
I'd say it's pretty rare - but a perfectly nice name.
You don't need that H though.

Yeah this. ^ I know it can be spelt Mathilde and Mathilda, but they look like MATH (as in addition and subtraction etc,) followed by ILDA. And most people will say 'MATH-ILDA.'

Don't do it @namestasher Matilda is a cute name, and yeah sure, use it... But spell it MATILDA. Don't set your daughter up for a life of having her name spelt incorrectly - or pronounced incorrectly. (Or both!)

Lucinda - asked about recently on here, and really not popular now, but I think really lovely.

Not a name I'm on fussed on but adding the 'h' will be 'nightmarish' for poor DD!

I know of quite a few Matilda's that have been born recently.

Agree with the above, Lucinda is lovely.

I have a Matilda. Please don't spell your child's name Mathilda.