Meaning & Origin
A female given name from French; a variant of Maud. This is the most common spelling in English-speaking regions.
Maude is a girl's and boy's baby name of French origin, the Old French and medieval English form of Matilda, from the Germanic elements mahti (might, strength) and hild (battle), meaning 'powerful in battle.'
Maude carries extraordinary historical weight — Empress Matilda fought for the English throne in the 12th century, while 20th century figures like poet Maude Gonne (Yeats' great love) and the CBS sitcom Maude gave it cultural dimension across eras. After decades as a great-grandmother name, Maude is having a sharp, sophisticated revival.