Tilly

Meaning & origin

Tilly is a name with a long history as a nickname, only recently establishing itself as an independent given name. Though its true etymology is debated, it has long been linked to the medieval name Matilda, meaning 'battle-mighty'. In the United States, Tilly was first recorded in 1912, but for decades it was only sporadically used. A turning point came in the 1980s. Since 1985, its trajectory has been steadily rising, and by 2025 it reached its peak rank of 884, with about 1 in every 5,322 newborn girls receiving the name. Tilly is most popular in South Dakota, West Virginia, and Oregon, suggesting an appeal that stretches from the Great Plains to the Pacific Northwest. Its revival aligns with a renewed fondness for vintage nickname-style names, putting Tilly firmly in the company of choices like Millie, Maisie, and Poppy. While still uncommon, Tilly's upward arc suggests it is a name poised for wider recognition.

Tilly originated as a nickname for Matilda, which derives from the Germanic elements 'maht' (might, strength) and 'hild' (battle). In medieval England, Matilda was a common name, and pet forms like Tilly emerged. The name also has independent use in German-speaking regions as a short form of names like Ottilie. In the 20th century, Tilly gained popularity as a standalone given name in English-speaking countries, particularly from the 1980s onward.