Tilly
Tilly was the 885th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 302 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,372 places. More babies were named Tilly in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Matilda (might + battle) · Germanic
Say it TIL-ee /ˈtɪli/
- Rank in 2025
- #885 girls, up 447 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 302girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025302 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,699babies recorded
What does the name Tilly mean?
Tilly is a pet form of Matilda, according to Wiktionary. Matilda comes from the Germanic name Mahthild, which DMNES explains as maht, "might", and hiltja, "battle". Wiktionary also notes a separate surname Tilly from French places of that name. Tillie is another spelling of the pet form.
maht (Old High German, “might”)hiltja (Old High German, “battle”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Related names: Matilda, Tillie, Mattie.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean strength, names that mean warrior.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Tilly', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mathilda', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Tilly popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #885 | 302 |
| 2020 | #1,332 | 166 |
| 2010 | #3,620 | 44 |
| 2000 | #17,428 | 5 |
| 1990 | #12,846 | 6 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | #4,299 | 6 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #5,682 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Tilly, counting every spelling?
Tilly is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #558 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #885 for Tilly on its own. Together these spellings went to 538 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilly | 302 | #885 | 1,286 |
| Tillie | 177 | #1,269 | 832 |
| Tilley | 32 | #4,449 | 129 |
| Tyleah | 12 | #8,820 | 92 |
| Tylie | 15 | #7,461 | 80 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Tilly?
302 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Tilly (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Tilly born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 28 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Tilly.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Tilly?
About 2,600 people born in the US named Tilly are alive today, with a median age of 6; half are between 3 and 11. That makes Tilly a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Tilly by state
How common Tilly was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Oregon (3.8×), Kentucky (3.6×), Tennessee (2.5×), Indiana (2.3×), Washington (2.1×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Tilly: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Tilly, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Tilly · Sibling names for Tilly
Tilly is also a nickname for Matilda.
Questions about the name Tilly
What does Tilly mean?
Tilly means “pet form of Matilda (might + battle)” (Germanic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Tilly?
Tilly was the 885th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 302 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,372 places. More babies were named Tilly in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Tilly a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Tilly in the US.
Where is Tilly most popular?
In 2021–2025, Tilly was most common in South Dakota (0.77 per 1,000 girls), followed by Oregon and Kentucky.