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| Photo Courtesy of Pennystone Park Photography |
Tilda
and Tilly. Many would see these names and think they are only nicknames
for Matilda, but both make for adorable names in their own right.
Whether you are debating which nickname to use for your little
Matilda, or simply which to give your daughter, it could be helpful
to look at them side by side.
Origin,
Meaning, Associations & Impressions
These
are so intertwined that it's helpful to consider them together. Both
Tilda and Tilly are considered to have originated as nicknames for
Matilda. Matilda is an Old German name meaning 'mighty in battle',
and hence this is also the accepted meaning for both Tilda and Tilly.
Tilda
– Tilda is also possibly Nordic, thought to mean 'heroine'. She's
said to be the slightly eccentric nickname for Matilda, sleek and
stylish. I've also seen her described as warm, dignified and
ladylike.
There
is also a British Food manufacturer with the brand name Tilda, who
are best known for their rice; and a Norwegian craft brand with this
name that specialise in whimsical and romantic dolls, animals,
fabrics and books.
Tilly
– This name may seem cute and girlish, but she can be seen as so
much more. I've seen her pop up on lists of names that are friendly,
relaxed, hipster, vintage, girly, British and Jazz Age style. Both
Tilly and Tillie are thought to be the bold option of the common
nicknames for Matilda.
Tilly
is also a place name, most prevalent in France but also found in
Scotland, Belgium and the US state of New York. It is also the name
of a poem by James Joyce, a novel by Frank E. Peretti, and a number
of WW2 British Utility vehicles.
Famous
Namesakes
Why
your chosen name has made or make make the headlines.
Tilda
– Worldwide, actress Tilda Swinton is the example that most readily
springs to mind. She has quite an imposing yet respectable on screen
persona, best known to younger audiences as the White Witch in 'The
Chronicles of Narnia' movies. She was born Katherine Matilda,
adopting the nickname as her stage name. Another famous Matilda come
Tilda – this time fictional – includes Tilda Price of Charles
Dickens' 'Nicholas Nickelby'.
There's
also a young character named Tilda in the movie 'The Hobbit: The
Desolation of Smaug'. And in Australia, young Adelaide actress
Tilda Cobham-Hervey recently became the face of the “find
wonderful” advertising campaign for department store Myer.
Reportedly her parents were inspired in part by Ms Swinton when they
chose her name.
Tilly
– To a more infamous Australian figure this time – Tilly Devine.
She was a prominent Sydney gangster in the 20'1, 30's and 40's, and
2011 true crime drama TV series 'Underbelly:Razor' focused on the
gangland wars she played a prominent role in during the 1930's.
Tilly
however is better known as a surname – actress sisters Meg Tilly
and Jennifer Tilly are examples, or maybe you prefer the example of
sociologist Charles Tilly, just to name a few.
And
although mothers may think of Catherine Cookson's 'Tilly Trotter',
young children are more likely to think of the main character from
'Tilly and Friends', about a five year old girl who lives in a
yellow house with her five best friends.
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| Tilly and Friends |
Pronunciation
& Nicknames
Often
when we've only seen a name written we may Some people fall in love
with a name for it's nicknames. Others aren't too fussed.
Tilda
– Pronounced TILL-dah, it doesn't need a nickname, although you
could always use Tilly and this way you get to use both.
Tilly
– Also has a straightforward pronunciation – TIL-lee. Another
popular re-spelling is Tillie. If you must use a nickname you could
go with Till or Lee, but you don't really need one.
Popularity
Some
want a name that is popular because it means it is familiar and well
liked. Others prefer a name that is rarer, feeling it will help their
child feel like an individual. Both Tilda and Tilly are much less
popular than Matilda. In 2013, Matilda was #18 in Australia, #36 in
the U.K, #95 in New Zealand and #645 in the U.S. In recent years it
has also been a top 50 name in Finland, Sweden and Chile. But how do
these two fare?
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| Tilda vs Tilly in the US Chart Courtesy of Our Baby Namer |
Tilda
– As many of the countries listed above don't release names past
the top 100, it's hard to get a direct comparison in those countries.
But it does seem to be the most popular in Sweden, where Tilde was
#51 and Tilda #61 in 2012. Conversely, Tilde has never charted in the
U.S, while Tilda remains a rarity. She was steadily used from the
1880's to the 1970's but then dropped into obscurity. It's only been
since 2006 that small numbers of parents have rediscovered her – in
2013 only six girls were named Tilda, placing her at #16,245.
Tilly
– In a time when Lily is a top 100 name in many countries, Tilly
feels like she should be on the verge of big things. Yet the only
place where she seems to be doing big things is the U.K. There Tilly
was #86 in 2013 and Tillie was #383. You'll also find plenty of
double barrelled options, such as Tilly-Mae, Tilly-May, Tilly-Rose,
Tilly-Ann, Tilly-Grace, Tilly-Rae, Tilly-Louise and more. This has
not yet caught on in the U.S., where Tilly was #2713 in 2013 and
Tillie #3808, with not a double barrel in sight.
What
do you think? Both are nicknames meaning 'mighty in battle' and both
have a jazz age feeling. Tilda is much rarer has a Scandinavian-chic
flair to her. But Tilly feels more friendly and approachable, and
while not as rare as Tilda it's still unlikely your daughter would
meet many other Tilly's at school. She's just different enough, in a
good way. Which (if either) would you be more likely to choose?
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