Matilda - Names
Meaning of the name Matilda
Gender:
Female
Meaning:
Strength in battle (from Germanic: Mahthildis)
History & etymology:
The name Matilda comes from Germanic name Mahthildis (macht - strength, hild - battle).
Its vernacular form, Maud, was common in medieval England.
Patron of the name, St. Mathilda, was born in the 10th century and was a daughter of a Saxon Count. She spent her childhood in a monastery, raised by her grandmother, who was an Abbess. There Mathilda developed love of books, prayer and needleworks. Her beauty and piety made Duke (and later King) Henry the Fowler ask for her hand in marriage. Mathilda and Henry had a successful and happy marriage. Henry relied on his wife's counsel in the matters of spirituality. After her husband's death Mathilda spent a few years at her son's court and then retired back to the monastery she grew up in.
Her feast day is celebrated on 14th March.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Mathilda, Maud, Maude
Diminutives: Mattie, Maudie, Tilda, Tilly
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Austria
14th March: Mathilde
Finland
14th March: Matilda
France
14th March: Mathilde
Germany
14th March: Mathilde
Poland
14th March, 11th January, 19th January: Matylda
Spain
14th March: Matilde
Sweden
14th March: Matilda
USA
21st September: Matilda
Famous people named Matilda:
Matilde Camus (1919 - 2012) - Spanish poet
Matilda of England(1102 - 1167) - Queen of Germany, daughter of Henry I of England
Mathilda Enequist(1833 - 1898) - Swedish opera singer
Mathilda Foy (1813 - 1869) - Swedish philanthropist
Matilda of Habsburg (1253 - 1304) - Duchess consort of Bavaria
Matilda of Holstein (1225 - 1288) - Danish queen consort
Matilda Lowther (1995-) - English model
Matilda of Scotland (1080 - 1118) - originally named Edith, wife of Henry I of England
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015):
USA: 553rd
England and Wales: 27th
Australia: 19th
Scotland: 91st
New Zealand: 41st
Lucky colors: blue
Lucky stone: Lapis Lazuli
Ruling planet: the Moon
Characteristics: romantic, naive, shy, introverted, honest
'Waltzing Matilda', a song written by Banjo Paterson, is often referred to as Australia's unofficial national anthem.