Holding steady.
Popularity of Rilda since 1888
Babies named Rilda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rilda's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 17 |
| 1900s | 22 |
| 1910s | 39 |
| 1920s | 100 |
| 1930s | 61 |
| 1940s | 66 |
| 1950s | 19 |
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Rilda first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1888, the year it reached its peak usage, though it never achieved widespread popularity. Its trajectory has remained stable with very minimal occurrences over the decades, and it has not recorded a rank in the top 1000. The name is exceedingly rare, with a one-in-N occurrence data unavailable due to its infrequency. It has no strong association with any particular region, as top states are absent from the records. Rilda may have been a short form of Matilda or a similar name, but its etymology is speculative. Parents considering this name today would likely be drawn to its vintage sound and extreme rarity.
The name Rilda is likely a short form or variant of names such as Matilda or Rowena, where the suffix -ilda derives from Old German *hild* meaning "battle." However, there is no consensus on Rilda as an independent given name. Its sparse appearance in U.S. records, first in 1888, suggests it may have been a spontaneous coinage or a pet form of more common names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rill, Rilda
Variants: Rildah
Sibling names for Rilda
Names that share Rilda's style, for a brother or sister.
