Christel vs Matilda
Christel and Matildacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2018, Christel was ranked #5666 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Christel was ranked #484 and Matilda #234 among girls in Norway.
Christel and Matilda over time
Christel and Matilda appear together in 2 published lists, across 21 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Christel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Matilda in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
Norway · Girls12 shared years, 1986–2017
Christel held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matilda in 5.
Highest recorded here: Christel #287 in 1986, Matilda #172 in 2014.
The order changed in 2006: Matilda moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #535 and #560; by 2006 that had become #591 and #319.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Christel #484, Matilda #234.
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 1998–2018
Christel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matilda in 9.
Highest recorded here: Christel #3382 in 2005, Matilda #31 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Christel #5666, Matilda #31.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Christel | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Tilly, Mathilde |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5666 (2018) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Christel does not have one recorded yet.
- Christel has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Christel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Christel a "medium" Data Confidence level and Matilda a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Christel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #339 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2017
Highest recorded position: #170 among girls in Norway, in 1983 (recorded 1945–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #5666 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018.
England and Wales · Girls
Matilda
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls