Harper vs Matilda
Harper 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Harper was ranked #5 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #15 and Matilda #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #21 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #22 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Harper was ranked #54 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Harper was ranked #84 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Harper and Matilda over time
Harper and Matilda appear together in 5 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Matilda in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Matilda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Harper in 1. 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Harper moved ahead of Matilda in England and Wales · Girls — #34 and #27 the year before became #27 and #31.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Harper #7 in 2024, Matilda #8 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 2001–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matilda in 16.
Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Matilda #25 in 2016.
The order changed in 2018: Harper moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #34 and #27; by 2018 that had become #27 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #22, Matilda #31.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 2011–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Matilda in 7.
Highest recorded here: Harper #7 in 2024, Matilda #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #15, Matilda #16.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Harper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Matilda in 4.
Highest recorded here: Harper #53 in 2018, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order changed in 2015: Harper moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #164 and #142; by 2015 that had become #102 and #146.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harper #54, Matilda #106.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2012–2024
Harper held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Matilda in 2.
Highest recorded here: Harper #38 in 2021, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order changed in 2014: Harper moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #178 and #132; by 2014 that had become #129 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #84, Matilda #110.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2023
Harper held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Matilda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harper #2 in 2017, Matilda #20 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harper #5, Matilda #27.
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 | Harper | Matilda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. |
| Origin | English (occupational surname) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/ | /məˈtɪldə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Tilly, Mathilde |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Harper is recorded with a English (occupational surname) origin, while Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Harper has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- Harper's recorded meaning differs from Matilda's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Harper 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
Harper
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls