Libby vs Matilda
Libby 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 2024, Libby was ranked #454 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #288 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #342 and Matilda #110 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Libby was ranked #260 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
Libby and Matilda over time
Libby and Matilda appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Matilda held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Libby in 0.
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.
Libby reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
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 2010, Matilda moved ahead of Libby in Northern Ireland · Girls — #164 and #224 the year before became #258 and #160.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Libby and Matilda changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #342 and #110.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Matilda rose about as far as Libby fell — from #220 and #211 in 1996 to #454 and #31 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Matilda in 19.
Highest recorded here: Libby #48 in 2005, Matilda #25 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #454, Matilda #31.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Matilda in 15.
Highest recorded here: Libby #181 in 2011, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #342, Matilda #110.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2006–2024
Libby held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Matilda in 13.
Highest recorded here: Libby #164 in 2009, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order changed in 2010: Matilda moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #164 and #224; by 2010 that had become #258 and #160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Libby #288, Matilda #110.
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 | Libby | 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #260 (2024) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Libby does not have one recorded yet.
- Libby has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Libby doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Libby 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
Libby
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #220 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #454 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls