Matilda vs Ruby
Matilda and Rubycompared 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, Matilda was ranked #16 and Ruby #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Matilda was ranked #27 and Ruby #17 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #31 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #148 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #150 and Ruby #450 among girls in Norway.
Matilda and Ruby over time
Matilda and Ruby appear together in 5 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Matilda in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ruby 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2020, Matilda moved ahead of Ruby in England and Wales · Girls — #30 and #27 the year before became #29 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Matilda and Ruby averaged 40.0 places apart, ending at #31 and #41.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ruby in 21.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #25 in 2016, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order changed in 2020: Matilda moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #30 and #27; by 2020 that had become #29 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #31, Ruby #41.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 26.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Ruby #36.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ruby in 15.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #8 in 2022, Ruby #2 in 2011.
The order changed in 2019: Matilda moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #21 and #16; by 2019 that had become #16 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #16, Ruby #28.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 20.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Ruby #18 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Ruby #38.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 14.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #20 in 2021, Ruby #2 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matilda #27, Ruby #17.
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 | Matilda | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | Germanic | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | /ˈruːbi/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Tilly, Mathilde | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #8 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Ruby is recorded with a English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') origin.
- Matilda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruby.
- Matilda's recorded meaning differs from Ruby's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Matilda a "high" Data Confidence level and Ruby a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls