Tilly

Meaning: Might, strength in battle
Origin: Variant of Matilda (from Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *Mahtihildiz)

Girl's name · #885 in the US (2025) · Trending

Popularity over time

Tilly is moving up the charts. First recorded in 1912, it stood at #885 in 2025 — its strongest showing yet; about 2,700 girls have been named Tilly along the way.

Across the states

See where Tilly is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 29 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Tilly ranks in other countries and regions.

#105 in New Zealand (2025) · #170 in Scotland (2025) · #194 in England & Wales (2025) · #245 in Ireland (2025) · #257 in N. Ireland (2025) · #386 in Sweden (2025) · #853 in Belgium (2025) · #1,771 in Switzerland (2025) · #745 in Canada (2024).

Famous Tillys

Tilly Fleischer — German javelin thrower (1911–2005)
Tilly Edinger — German paleontologist (1897–1967)
Tilly Losch — Ballerina, dancer, actress (1903–1975)
Tilly Keeper — British actress
Tilly van der Zwaard — Dutch sprinter and middle-distance runner

In stories & tradition

Tilly Norwood — virtual actor
Tilly Masterson^it — Goldfinger (book)
Tilly Evans — Hollyoaks (TV series)

What Tillys become

Among 99 notable people named Tilly:

Entertainers appear 2.67× more often than among typical names — e.g. Tilly Losch, Austrian dancer (1903–1975).

Spellings & nicknames

Together with its spelling variant Tillie (#1269), Tilly would rank around #610 with about 480 births last year — the newborns split about 63/37 between Tilly and Tillie.

Similar names: Tillie · Marlow · Theia · Wylie · Colbie · Hartley

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

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