Tilly
Say it: TIL-ee/ˈtɪli/
GirlMeans a pet form of Matilda5 letters2 syllables
#239
in Ireland (2025)
#241 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#153
best rank (2022)
278
babies since 2005
Up 138
10-year rank change
Tilly through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #241 |
| 2024 | 19 | #227 |
| 2023 | 22 | #203 |
| 2022 | 34 | #153 |
| 2021 | 24 | #201 |
| 2020 | 15 | #275 |
| 2019 | 22 | #221 |
| 2018 | 21 | #228 |
| 2017 | 12 | #343 |
| 2016 | 17 | #273 |
| 2015 | 12 | #379 |
| 2014 | 10 | #430 |
| 2013 | 8 | #496 |
| 2012 | 13 | #372 |
| 2011 | 5 | #693 |
| 2010 | 7 | #556 |
| 2009 | 8 | #489 |
| 2008 | 3 | #860 |
| 2006 | 3 | #763 |
| 2005 | 5 | #524 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Tilly mean?
A pet form of Matilda
English, a short form of Matilda with the familiar ending -y.
Say it right
TILee
The story of Tilly
Tilly started life as a nickname for Matilda, made by clipping the name and adding the friendly -y ending. Matilda is an old Germanic name. There is also an unrelated surname Tilly, taken from places of that name in France and brought to England by the Normans.
Tilly is now often given as a full name in its own right, part of the same fashion as Millie, Lottie and Evie.
It first reached the CSO list in 2005. Its best year was 2022, when 34 girls were named Tilly and it reached number 153. It caught on sooner in Northern Ireland, where it made the top 100 in 2014, at number 99.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Tilly (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Tilly (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Tilly | 18 | 278 |
In Northern Ireland
#231 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #99 (2014); 291 babies since 2006.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.