"mighty in battle, strength in battle"
Origin: Germanic
Language: German
Tillie
Pronunciation: [ t-IHL-ee ]
Does Tillie flow with your last name?
Victorian charm with modern playfulness
English
German
American
British
Vintage
Playful
Gentle
Classic
Whimsical
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Tillie
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Tillie
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Tillie
See all →What the Tillie report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Tillie the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Tillie
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Tillie head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Tillie actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Tillie
Tillie is a diminutive of Matilda (also Tilda, Tilly), from the Germanic Mahthildis: 'maht' (might, strength) + 'hild' (battle). So Tillie ultimately means 'mighty in battle' or 'strength in battle'. It was widely used in Victorian and Edwardian England as a standalone name, fell out of fashion mid-20th century, and is now experiencing a strong revival as part of the vintage-nickname trend alongside Millie, Nellie, and Elsie.
Tillie/Tilly is part of a major revival of vintage British diminutive names in the 2010s–2020s. In the UK, names ending in -ie/-y like Millie, Ellie, Rosie, and Tilly have dominated girls' charts. Tillie offers the same charm as the more common Tilly with a slightly more distinctive spelling.
Tillie carries the warm nostalgia of Edwardian England, conjuring images of garden parties and storybooks. In British children's literature and media, Tilly/Tillie appears as a plucky, cheerful character. The name feels both cozy and spirited.
Historical Record
Tillie first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 2,407 babies have been named Tillie in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Tillie is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #1,235 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Matilda (root of Tillie) was a popular name among English royalty — William the Conqueror's wife was Matilda
- Roald Dahl's Matilda (1988) helped keep the name family in public consciousness
- In Australia, 'Waltzing Matilda' is considered the unofficial national anthem
Tillie in Other Languages
French
Mathilde
German
Mathilde
Spanish
Matilde
Swedish
Matilda
Popularity Over Time
#1,235
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Tillie
T
Tillie Olsen
Writer
1912
American author known for the short story 'I Stand Here Ironing' and advocate for working-class literature
M
Matilda of Flanders
Royalty
1031
Queen of England as wife of William the Conqueror, one of England's most powerful medieval queens
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Cordelia
Girl
"jewel of the sea"
#1,065
Aubrielle
Girl
"noble, bright power"
#1,087
Emilie
Girl
"rival, industrious"
#1,386
Antonia
Girl
"of the Antonius family"
#1,053
Imogen
Girl
"maiden, girl"
#1,127
Compare Tillie with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,235
- Total SSA Count
- 189
- Cultural Origins
- English German American British
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Till
Til
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Tillie
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Tillie fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Tillie is also used as a boy name, ranked #28371.
View Tillie as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Tillie →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Tillie with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Tillie
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Tillie and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Tillie sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Cordelia
Girl
Celtic origin
"jewel of the sea"
#1,065 in US
Aubrielle
Girl
Germanic via French origin
"noble, bright power"
#1,087 in US
Emilie
Girl
Latin Aemilius/aemulus origin
"rival, industrious"
#1,386 in US
Antonia
Girl
Latin clan name origin
"of the Antonius family"
#1,053 in US
Imogen
Girl
Celtic origin
"maiden, girl"
#1,127 in US
Dalilah
Girl
Hebrew biblical origin
"one who weakens or brings low"
#1,051 in US
Harlem
Girl
Old Dutch origin
"elevated wooded settlement"
#1,302 in US
Kailey
Girl
Greek/Old English compound origin
"pure meadow"
#1,284 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Tillie's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tillie
What does the name Tillie mean?
"mighty in battle, strength in battle" (from Germanic). Tillie is a diminutive of Matilda (also Tilda, Tilly), from the Germanic Mahthildis: 'maht' (might, strength) + 'hild' (battle). So Tillie ultimately means 'mighty in battle' or 'strength in battle'. It was widely used in Victorian and Edwardian England as a standalone name, fell out of fashion mid-20th century, and is now experiencing a strong revival as part of the vintage-nickname trend alongside Millie, Nellie, and Elsie.
What is the origin of the name Tillie?
Tillie has Germanic, English, German, American, and British origins. In Germanic, it means "mighty in battle, strength in battle".
Is Tillie a boy or girl name?
Tillie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1235. As a boy name, it is ranked #28371. Tillie is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Tillie?
Tillie is pronounced t-IHL-ee.
How popular is the name Tillie?
Tillie is currently ranked #1235 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Tillie?
Common nicknames for Tillie include Till and Til.
What are good middle names for Tillie?
Popular middle name pairings include Tillie Rose, Tillie Mae, Tillie Jane, Tillie Grace, Tillie Bea, Tillie Pearl, and Tillie Joy.
What are good sibling names for Tillie?
Names that pair well with Tillie as siblings include Millie, Nell, Dot, Archie, Bertie, Elsie, and Freddie.
How many syllables does Tillie have?
Tillie has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Tillie a common or rare name?
Tillie is an uncommon name, ranked #1235 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Tillie?
Are there other spellings for Tillie?
Related spellings include Tilly.
About the Name Tillie
Tillie is a girl name with English, German, American, and British origins . The name means "mighty in battle, strength in battle" in Germanic .
Is Tillie a boy or girl name? Tillie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,235 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #28,371. Tillie is more commonly used as a girl name.
Tillie is currently ranked #1,235 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Tillie has 2 syllables and is pronounced t-IHL-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Tillie include Till and Til. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Tillie include Tilly . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Germanic Names
Browse all names with this origin
T
Names Starting with T
More girl names like Tillie
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis