Meaning & Origin
a female given name, equivalent to English Matilda
Mathilde is a girl's baby name of Germanic origin, the French and Scandinavian form of Matilda, from the Old High German Mahthildis, composed of maht (strength, power) and hild (battle), meaning 'mighty in battle' — the name of queens, saints, and the woman who launched a civil war for the English throne.
With over 1,772 recorded births, Mathilde is used in French, Belgian, and Scandinavian communities as the elegant Continental form of Matilda. Queen Mathilde of Belgium (born 1973) — the first Belgian-born queen consort — represents the name's contemporary royal presence. The Empress Matilda (1102–1167), daughter of Henry I of England, fought a civil war ('The Anarchy') for the English crown — her persistence ultimately secured the throne for her son Henry II. A name of royal determination.