Matilda vs Zoe
Matilda and Zoecompared 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 Zoe #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #19 and Zoe #104 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Matilda was ranked #27 and Zoe #24 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Zoe #46 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #148 and Zoe #76 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Zoe #105 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #150 and Zoe #313 among girls in Norway.
Matilda and Zoe over time
Matilda and Zoe appear together in 6 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Zoe held the stronger position in more years in 4 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.
Zoe 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 2006, Matilda moved ahead of Zoe in England and Wales · Girls — #89 and #67 the year before became #70 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Matilda and Zoe changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1987 and 2025, ending at #150 and #313.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Matilda and Zoe averaged 10.0 places apart, ending at #16 and #19.
- Longest-running competitions
Matilda and Zoe were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #19 and #104.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Matilda #97 in 2016, Zoe #26 in 2016.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1968–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zoe in 31.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Zoe #26 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Zoe #46.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Zoe in 10.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #19 in 2025, Zoe #31 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Matilda moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #89 and #67; by 2006 that had become #70 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #19, Zoe #104.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1987–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Zoe in 7.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #145 in 2023, Zoe #211 in 2020.
The order changed in 2021: Matilda moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #224 and #211; by 2021 that had become #218 and #321.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #150, Zoe #313.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Zoe in 15.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #8 in 2022, Zoe #8 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #16, Zoe #19.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Zoe in 20.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Zoe #37 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Zoe #105.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Matilda held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Zoe in 13.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #20 in 2021, Zoe #11 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matilda #27, Zoe #24.
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 | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | Means 'life' in Greek. |
| Origin | Germanic | Ancient Greek |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | /ˈzoʊi/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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 #19 (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 Zoe is recorded with a Ancient Greek origin.
- Matilda has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Zoe.
- Matilda's recorded meaning differs from Zoe'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 Zoe 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
Zoe
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1981–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #104 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls