Thoughts on the name…

[JollyTealHedgehog]

DH and I are expecting our first baby in Feb. We’re really struggling to agree on any names and the only one we currently both like is Matilda (we know we’re having a daughter). Looking for honest thoughts on it as a name. I’m not sure if she’ll be saddled with Roald Dahl comments for life?

it’s a lovely name. I would only use it if you like Tilly and Mati for short though (as I know primary school age Matilda’s who go by their full name but they tend to choose to shorten it by secondary school and that’s hard to control).

Even if she does get any Roald Dahl comments (unlikely) it’s a very positive character, Matilda (the character) is brave but likeable, it’s definitely not a negative association for me!

But yes, she will be known as Tilly whether you want it or not… I love Tilly as a name though so again, I’d like that 😀

Twee

I really like Matilda, with the nickname Tilly

I think Mathilde is also a fine name, and might be less prone to shortening.

I also know a Matty! (As in, short for Matilda.)

I love this name!

It's fine but she's highly likely to be Tilda or Tilly. Matilda popularity
Natalie seems dated, and the Mathilda spelling looks wrong.

It's a lovely name, and timeless.

I wasn't a big reader of Ronald Dahl so wouldn't automatically think of that character. I don't think it matters in this instance anyway.

Lovely. I know one who goes by Tilda.

I love Matilda, Iff shortened it's Tilly or Tildy, both sweet, but I love the full name..
I know a Little Mattie.

Other ideas
Miranda
Maxima
Clotilde

My DD has a friend Matilda, lovely name. Never heard anyone call her Tilly

Honest thoughts, I don't love it. It's always seemed a little clunky and harsh. There's a lot of hard consonants and it has quite a staccato sound, and the nicknames are a little blah. There are so many gorgeous girls names out there with lovely meanings and sounds. I'd keep looking perhaps?

I don't love it but it's nice than many of the popular names.

I don’t think it’s timeless. It has had a huge popularity surge and may well soon fall out of fashion and feel dated.

I think it won't date badly but I wouldn't call it timeless. It will probably be a 'born between 2005 and 2030' name.

I personally don't like it. I have never met a Matilda and consider it an old lady name, plus it was my brothers favorite book. I seem to be in the minority though. If you like it, use it.

Thanks all for your thoughts! And lots of options for nicknames that I like (Tilly/Mattie/Tilda). DH not keen on Tilly, but I think this is quite an inevitable nickname so we might need to rethink if this is a dealbreaker for him.

Regarding popularity it’s currently around 30th in UK and peaked a couple of years ago at 25th so meets our criteria of familiar and not needing constant spelling out etc. without being extremely common (appreciate this may vary with location and demographics, but the only Matildas I know are early 20s and early 30s respectively).

I love it. I would shorten it to Tilly. Which I also love.

Love Matilda!

We know a few and they’ve all been shortened to Tilly, so agree with others that if you’re happy with Tilly, go for it

Lovely name, like the nickname Tilly too!

Matilda is lovely, very popular. And I think the RD and theatre/film connection is no bad thing -it’s a great book!!

We were considering it 20 years ago but I’m glad we didn’t choose it as it became a little too fashionable in the following years.

It's a classic girls name with a nice diminutive. Go for it!

It's a nice name but has been fairly popular for a while now. I don't automatically assume Tilly when I hear it.