Matilda vs Saorlaith
Matilda and Saorlaithcompared 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 2016, Matilda was ranked #25 and Saorlaith #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Saorlaith #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Saorlaith #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Matilda and Saorlaith over time
Matilda and Saorlaith appear together in 2 published lists, across 34 years of shared records. Matilda held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Saorlaith 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.
Matilda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Saorlaith 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, Saorlaith moved ahead of Matilda in Northern Ireland · Girls — #102 and #135 the year before became #110 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Matilda and Saorlaith changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2007 and 2024, ending at #110 and #91.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Saorlaith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Saorlaith #247 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Saorlaith #247.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2007–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Saorlaith in 7.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Saorlaith #90 in 2022.
The order changed in 2024: Saorlaith moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #102 and #135; by 2024 that had become #110 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Saorlaith #91.
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 | Matilda | Saorlaith |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #247 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Matilda has a recorded origin (Germanic); Saorlaith does not have one recorded yet.
- Matilda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Saorlaith.
- A meaning is recorded for Matilda; Saorlaith doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Matilda a "high" Data Confidence level and Saorlaith 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 #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Saorlaith
Popularity journey
First recorded2002
First recorded at #339 among girls in Northern Ireland in 2002 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Northern Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2024
Highest recorded position: #90 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2002–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls