Namewise

Madison vs Matilda

Madison 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2018, Madison was ranked #89 and Matilda #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Madison was ranked #44 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Madison was ranked #166 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Madison was ranked #148 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Madison was ranked #134 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Madison was ranked #135 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.

Madison and Matilda over time

Madison and Matilda appear together in 5 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Madison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New Zealand · Girls, Matilda moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2018 as Madison fell out of it to #57, having been #30 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2008, Matilda moved ahead of Madison in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #23 and #26 the year before became #25 and #15.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Madison and Matilda changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #134 and #110.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Madison #86 in 2014, Matilda #97 in 2016.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Madison held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Matilda in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Madison #35 in 2007, Matilda #25 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Madison #166, Matilda #31.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 20012025

    Madison held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Matilda in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Madison #86 in 2014, Matilda #97 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Madison #148, Matilda #106.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 20042024

    Madison held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Matilda in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Madison #37 in 2006, Matilda #91 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2020: Matilda moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #138 and #144; by 2020 that had become #192 and #95.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Madison #134, Matilda #110.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 20042018

    Madison held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Matilda in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Madison #22 in 2004, Matilda #15 in 2008.

    The order changed in 2008: Matilda moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #23 and #26; by 2008 that had become #25 and #15.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Madison #89, Matilda #21.

  • New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 20092023

    Madison held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Matilda in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Madison #20 in 2009, Matilda #20 in 2021.

    The order changed in 2018: Matilda moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #30 and #33; by 2018 that had become #57 and #30.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Madison #44, 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

Side-by-side comparison of Madison, Matilda
FieldMadisonMatilda
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'.
OriginNot yet recordedGermanic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/məˈtɪldə/
Syllables33
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedTilly, Mathilde
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)United Kingdom #8 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Madison and Matilda both have 3 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Madison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Madison 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

Madison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1994–2023

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Matilda

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2004–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls