Lilian vs Matilda
Lilian 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 2025, Lilian was ranked #531 and Matilda #19 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Lilian was ranked #555 and Matilda #122 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lilian was ranked #638 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Lilian was ranked #500 and Matilda #202 among girls in Norway.
Lilian and Matilda over time
Lilian and Matilda appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Matilda held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lilian 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.
Lilian 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.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Lilian and Matilda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #531 and #19.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lilian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Matilda in 30.
Highest recorded here: Lilian #451 in 2007, Matilda #19 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lilian #531, Matilda #19.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1965–2023
Lilian held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matilda in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lilian #198 in 1965, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order changed in 2006: Matilda moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #461 and #523; by 2006 that had become #635 and #260.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lilian #555, Matilda #122.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Matilda
Pairs where Matilda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matilda vs Layla
Matilda and Layla both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mia vs Matilda
Mia and Matilda both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mia · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Matilda
Charlotte and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Matilda · 33 shared years, 1965–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Matilda vs Daisy
Matilda and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Matilda · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Lilian | 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-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #531 (2025) | United Kingdom #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Lilian does not have one recorded yet.
- Lilian has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Lilian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Lilian 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
Lilian
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #334 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #194 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #531 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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