Matilda vs Willow
Matilda and Willow compared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Matilda was ranked #27 and Willow #6 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #16 and Willow #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #19 and Willow #20 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #148 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Matilda and Willow over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Matilda and Willow over time
Matilda and Willow appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Willow held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Matilda in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2017, Willow moved ahead of Matilda in New Zealand · Girls — #24 and #25 the year before became #33 and #21.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Matilda and Willow changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2003 and 2025, ending at #106 and #58.
- Longest-running competitions
Matilda and Willow were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #19 and #20.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Matilda #19 in 2025, Willow #9 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Willow in 8.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #19 in 2025, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #19, Willow #20.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Willow in 14.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Willow #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Willow in 14.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order changed in 2011: Willow moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #160 and #283; by 2011 that had become #147 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Willow #44.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Willow in 3.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #8 in 2022, Willow #10 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #16, Willow #23.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 2010–2023
Matilda held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Willow in 11.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #20 in 2021, Willow #5 in 2020.
The order changed in 2017: Willow moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #24 and #25; by 2017 that had become #33 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matilda #27, Willow #6.
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
Other comparisons involving Willow
Pairs where Willow shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Willow vs Evelyn
Willow and Evelyn 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.
Willow · Evelyn · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Willow vs Aurora
Willow and Aurora 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.
Willow · Aurora · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Willow
Charlotte and Willow 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 · Willow · 23 shared years, 2003–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Willow
Freya and Willow 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.
Freya · Willow · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Matilda | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | Germanic | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Tilly, Mathilde | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #16 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #20 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Willow is recorded with a English, a modern nature name from the willow tree origin.
- Matilda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Willow.
- Matilda's recorded meaning differs from Willow's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Matilda a "high" Data Confidence level and Willow 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
Willow
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #891 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 2020 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #20 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls