Entry № 0816 · Germanic, English origin

Tilly Tilly — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ TIL-ee /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Germanic, English

Meaning

"Mighty in battle"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Modern (English)

The meaning

A name that means "mighty in battle".

Tilly is the English diminutive of Matilda — from the Germanic maht (might) and hild (battle) — meaning "mighty in battle."

Tilly is rising as part of the broader vintage diminutive revival. Tilly is the AI character in the Pixar/Disney film Ratatouille, and various young actresses bear the name.

Mighty in battle. The English vintage Matilda.

Popularity

Where Tilly stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Tilly · last year

142 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Tillys before her.

Real people

Tilly Cooper

British actress and author.

born 1953

In fiction

Tilly

Common in British fiction.

Names connected to Tilly.

Numerology

The number behind Tilly.

The Humanitarian

Tilly reduces to nine — the number of small fierce grace.

Parents on Tilly

Why families chose this name.

"Matilda formally. Tilly in life. Five letters."

Catherine · Mother of one · Cotswolds