Maeve vs Matilda
Maeve 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 2025, Maeve was ranked #38 and Matilda #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Maeve was ranked #25 and Matilda #27 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maeve was ranked #25 and Matilda #148 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Maeve was ranked #26 and Matilda #31 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maeve was ranked #57 and Matilda #110 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maeve was ranked #60 and Matilda #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Maeve and Matilda over time
Maeve and Matilda appear together in 3 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Maeve held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Matilda in 1.
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.
Matilda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Maeve 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 2024, Maeve moved ahead of Matilda in England and Wales · Girls — #36 and #30 the year before became #26 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maeve and Matilda changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #57 and #110.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Maeve and Matilda averaged 57.8 places apart, ending at #57 and #110.
- Longest-running competitions
Maeve and Matilda were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #60 and #106.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1965–2025
Maeve held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Matilda in 3.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #60 in 2025, Matilda #97 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maeve #60, Matilda #106.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maeve held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Matilda in 28.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #26 in 2024, Matilda #25 in 2016.
The order changed in 2024: Maeve moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #36 and #30; by 2024 that had become #26 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maeve #26, Matilda #31.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Maeve held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Matilda in 7.
Highest recorded here: Maeve #57 in 2024, Matilda #91 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maeve #57, 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.
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 Maeve
Pairs where Maeve shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Audrey vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #85 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #60.
Audrey · Maeve · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Katherine vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #77 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Katherine · Maeve · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Maeve | 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 | 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 #38 (2025) | 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); Maeve does not have one recorded yet.
- Maeve has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Matilda.
- A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Maeve 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 Maeve 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
Maeve
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2020–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2020–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 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