All about the name

Mattilyn

Female

« Mattilyn is a unique American feminine name coined by Alice Walker for her novel "The Color Purple," with no specific meaning outside of literature. »

#7152 last year

Meaning, origin, history

Mattilyn is a unique and uncommon female given name of American origin. It is believed to have been coined by author Alice Walker for the title character in her 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple." The name Mattilyn has no specific meaning or translation, as it was created for literary purposes. Prior to its appearance in Walker's novel, there are no known records of the name Mattilyn being used. Since its introduction, however, it has gained some recognition and has been occasionally used as a given name. According to the Social Security Administration data, only a handful of babies have been named Mattilyn each year since the late 1980s. Despite its limited usage, the name Mattilyn carries a certain literary prestige due to its association with Alice Walker's renowned novel. It is often seen as a strong and distinctive name choice for parents looking for something unusual for their daughter. In terms of its popularity, Mattilyn has never made it onto the Social Security Administration's list of the top 1000 most popular baby girl names in the United States. This further emphasizes its rarity and uniqueness. Overall, Mattilyn is an intriguing and uncommon female given name with American origins. While it may not have a specific meaning or historical significance beyond its literary inception, it continues to be recognized as a distinctive name choice for girls.

In numbers

Popularity of the name Mattilyn since 1880

Total births
640
Total since 1880
Peak year
2012
40 births
in 2023
16
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+3%
vs previous 5 years