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[Opinions] Mathilda
I recently read that Molly Ringwald named her daughter Mathilda Ereni, and Moon Unit Zappa named her daughter Mathilda Plum. (Well, at least she didn't use Plum as a first name, like Apple or Peaches).Since Moon Unit Zappa is probably the most recognizable "odd rock star child's name" of all time, I was interested to see if she had kids and what she named them. Apparently she only has one. It doesn't seem that her brother Dweezil has any kids yet.According to the name voyager at the baby name wizard website, Mathilda fell off the charts in the 1930s and has yet to recover.Do you see this as one of those old-fashioned names that might be revived?
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definitely on the rise...for several reasons:
1. It's old enough to be making a comeback
2. It shares a really stylish sound- follows Madison, Madeline, Mattea and Lily (the Tilly nn)
3. It also fits the 'off-beat,' old-English type of names popular with the multi-college-degree yuppie parents (Oliver and Felix are examples on the boys' side) on both sides of the Atlantic.
4. More than one cute nickname to choose from- Mattie, Tilly, Tilda
5. It's already very stylish in the UK, Europe and Australia (where it's linked w/the unofficial anthem 'Waltzing Matilda') and we always follow them, lol.sa
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Definitely. It's already taken an upsurge in popularity (acutally, Matilda has). I really like it spelled Matilda. It has that strong but soft characteristic of so many popular names today.
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I find it to be an ugly name and really dated. Although the nick name Tilly is rather cute.
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I hope not! Mathilda is so pretty and feminine, and its uncommon-ness is another good quality. Personally, I dislike how so many celebrities use it. But it's so great, I suppose it may make a bit of a comeback.
Andrew
Proud Adopter Of Many Lovely Punctuation Pets; See My Profile For Their Names."Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
Martin Luther King, Jr."It is not length of life, but depth of life."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Though I prefer the more straight forward spelling Matilda, yes, I do see this one coming back. It's part of an overall trend to resurrect names from the past. I, for one, couldn't be happier. Mathilda / Matilda has several cute nn possibilities: Mattie, Millie, Tillie, Tilda. The name is very evocative for me. Mathilda / Matilda reminds me first of the medieval ages and all those queens / ladies of England. (Matilda Joan is my favorite "gloriously medieval" combination.) The second thing that pops to mind when I see / hear Mathilda is the Victorian era. (Matilda Jane?)
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Matilda might experience a brief comeback because of the recent celebrities who've named their daughters Matilda.Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams (with godfather Jake Gyllenhaal) also named their daughter Matilda, btw. Plus someone else... Sting or someone, I can't entirely remember.Personally, Matilda is a character in a book and a name for old ladies. I really, really, really dislike this name because I find it so masculine and ugly - like the name of a mean old warty witch. It's so clunky and harsh, imo.
"Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh"
"Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know"

- 'Home', Michael Buble

This message was edited 2/23/2006, 9:49 AM

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I really agree with this. I too see Matilda as a mean, warty witch! I can't help it! It's just an ugly, old-lady, clunker name to me. I don't understand when people rave about it's "prettiness" or how "feminine" it is. HUH??
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I forgot about Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. Another Mathilda!Tilly or Tillie is a cute nn.
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Unfortunately yes. Mainly because of Moon Unit Zappa and and Michelle Williams using it. Also because it's in the same kind of old fashioned style as Ella, Ava, Sophie, Charlotte, Violet, Lily etc. that are all getting so popular, and the cute nicknames Mattie and Tilly, I can see it taking a huge leap in popularity.
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I don't think Mathilda is near as pretty sounding as Ella, Ava, Sophie, Charlotte, Violet or Lily - at least those names sound feminine. I don't expect Matilda will become as popular as those at all. It might reach the lower half of the top 100 for a year or two and then just disappear again...
"Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh"
"Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know"

- 'Home', Michael Buble
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You could be right. It is still associated as an old lady/witch name to some people. I sure hope it does just disappear again since it's one of my favourite names lol. Except it's now in the England and Wales top 100 :(
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