Matilde is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German words 'maht' meaning 'power' or 'strength', and 'hild' meaning 'battle'. The name was popularized by Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England, who lived in the late 11th to early 12th century. She was known for her intelligence, strength of character, and significant political influence during her time. Throughout history, several other notable figures have borne this name, including Matilda of Tuscany, a medieval Italian ruler, and Matilda, Duchess of Buckingham, an English noblewoman in the 13th century. Today, Matilde continues to be used as a given name for girls around the world, carrying with it a rich historical legacy of strength and power.
The name Matilde has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the name was given to around 5-10 babies each year, with peaks in 1902 and 1903 where it reached 15 births annually.
In the mid-20th century, there was a notable decrease in the popularity of the name Matilde, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1947 to 1967. However, starting from the late 1960s, the name began to regain some traction, reaching around 30-40 births annually during the 1970s and 1980s.
The trend continued into the early 2000s, with Matilde seeing a peak in popularity in 2005 when it reached 35 births that year. Since then, the name has maintained a steady level of popularity, with around 20-40 births annually until the most recent data available from 2023, where it reached 49 births.
In total, over the years from 1883 to 2023, there have been 3156 babies named Matilde born in the United States. This demonstrates that while Matilde may not have been one of the most popular names throughout history, it has maintained a consistent presence and continues to be chosen by parents for their daughters today.