Tillie

Meaning: Might, strength in battle
Origin: Variant of Matilda (from Germanic)

Girl's name · #1269 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Tillie was #148 in 1884, slipped to #11700 by 1994, and has climbed back to #1269 today. About 16,000 girls have carried it since 1880.

Across the states

See where Tillie is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 19 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Tillie ranks in other countries and regions.

#300 in Scotland (2025) · #331 in N. Ireland (2025) · #567 in England & Wales (2025) · #711 in Ireland (2025) · #885 in Sweden (2025) · #933 in Belgium (2025) · #1,106 in Canada (2024).

Famous Tillies

Tillie Olsen — American writer (1912–2007)
Tillie Martinussen — Danish politician
Tillie K. Fowler — American congresswoman (1942–2005)
Tillie Walden — American cartoonist
Tillie Anderson — Cyclist (1875–1965)

In stories & tradition

Tillie Lagerlof — Pollyanna (film)

What Tillies become

Among 23 notable people named Tillie:

No single standout — notable Tillies spread across many fields.

Spellings & nicknames

Together with its spelling variant Tilly (#885), Tillie would rank around #610 with about 480 births last year — the newborns split about 63/37 between Tilly and Tillie.

Similar names: Tilly · Wilhelmina · Tyla · Milly · Nell · Ollie

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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