Name of the Day: Tilda

November 5

About the Name of the Day Newsletter 📰

You may have noticed that we’ve been sending out a Name of the Day newsletter this week. That will soon migrate over to a *new* newsletter — in case you want to receive just one or the other — but you can join the party early by signing up here.

Tilda

Actress Tilda Swinton — formerly Katherine Matilda Swinton — was born in London, England on November 5th, 1960. In her acting career she would go on to win an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and a European Film Award amongst numerous others.

Matilda is among the hottest vintage names in recent years. It shot up the charts to #28 in England and Wales, and is hovering at #26 in our Nameberry popularity rankings. In the US, Matilda is on the rise and just broke the Top 500, but still remains in that sweet spot of familiar but not overused.

Many of these Matildas are going by the cutesy nickname Tilly, others the tomboyish Mattie. But sweet Tilda has yet to receive this same love, and we think it is about time.

Tilda as a standalone name ranked in the US popularity charts until 1912. Following the 100 Year Rule, we would argue it is ripe for revival. It has that quaint, European charm — it ranks in the Top 100 in Germany and Sweden — along with a fun and playful energy.

Australia’s unofficial national anthem Waltzing Matilda refers to a traveling salesman: waltzing is slang for walking and matilda means swag. The lyrics were composed in 1895 by Australian poet Banjo Paterson, after whom Aussie actress Rachel Griffiths named her son. The song is still so popular that Matilda is the most popular girls’ name on Nameberry among visitors from Australia.

Another vintage Matilda variant ready for a comeback: Maude.