Given name
Tilda
“one who is mighty in battle”
In Swedish use, Tilda is a short form of Matilda. One German interpretation is “one who is mighty in battle.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Tilda carries the interpretation “one who is mighty in battle.” In Swedish use, Tilda is a short form of Matilda. One German interpretation is “one who is mighty in battle.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
Tilda is used as a form of Matilda.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Swedish use, Tilda is a short form of Matilda. The history of Matilda gives this family its wider story. Use of Matilda was revived during the 18th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Tilda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,040
- 0 boys · 2,040 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 35 babies
- 2025
- 17
- #6,806 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +14%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 17 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 6,806 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 35 in 1924. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 724 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Tilda’s family of names
In Swedish usage, Tilda is a short form of Matilda. Tilda shares a linguistic root with Tilde. Tilda has a related form in Tildah.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Tilda has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its German roots to each of them.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Tilda
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tilda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hilda
“a battlemaiden”
>99% girls
Wilma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Irma
“a universal woman”
>99% girls
Velma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Frieda
“a peaceful ruler”
>99% girls
Alda
“long-lived, old; wise; an elder”
>99% girls
Erma
“one who is complete; universal”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls