Tillie
Tillie is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Battle-mighty or strength in battle.
Origin and history
Tillie originated as a diminutive of Matilda, a Germanic name composed of elements meaning strength and battle. It was widely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. Recently, it has experienced a vintage revival alongside other traditional short forms.
Popularity in the United States
15,738 babies in the United States have been named Tillie since 1880. It ranks #1236 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1245.
States where it is most popular
- NY (17.7 %)
- PA (12.7 %)
- TX (8.1 %)
- CA (8.1 %)
- IL (7.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,254 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,009 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,842 |
| 1910-1920 | 3,655 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,696 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,136 |
| 1940-1950 | 559 |
| 1950-1960 | 315 |
| 1960-1970 | 187 |
| 1970-1980 | 142 |
| 1980-1990 | 116 |
| 1990-2000 | 89 |
| 2000-2010 | 205 |
| 2010-2019 | 589 |
| 2020-2029 | 944 |
Famous people named Tillie
- Tillie Olsen: Writer, Activist
- Tillie Anderson: Athlete, Cyclist
Fun facts
- Tillie originally developed as a pet form of Matilda before establishing itself as an independent given name.
- Tillie the Toiler was a famous American newspaper comic strip created by Russ Westover that ran from 1921 to 1959.