Now that Matilda has been declared a hipster baby name, what’s a true trend-setter to do?
How ’bout using Matilda’s medieval counterpart instead? Thanks to Lola for suggesting Maud as Name of the Day.
The link between Maud and Matilda seems elusive at first glance.
Matilda’s origins are straightforward. She comes from the Germanic Mathilidis – maht, or might and hild, or battle. In the tenth century, Mathilda of Ringelheim became a queen, and later a saint.
The name remained in use in royal circles and was eventually bestowed upon Matilda of Flanders, a descendent of the Anglo-Saxon King Alfred the Great of England and wife of William the Conqueror. Not surprisingly, it was among the many Norman names adopted in England.
The contracted form of Matilda was Mahald; in French, Mahaut. I’m not certain how Mahald would’ve been pronounced, but Mahaut was probably mah o. Shorten them both a little bit more and voilà - Maud.
For the next few centuries, Maud and Matilda were interchangeable. William’s queen consort was known by both names. Virtually every Maud is listed as Maud (Matilda); nearly every Matilda is listed as Matilda (Maud). Every once in a while, a historian gets it wrong and lists a woman as “Maud Matilda” – as if it were a first and middle name, but that’s just not so. Maulde and Maude were two more variants.
William’s last surviving granddaughter was called Maude. Betrothed as a child to the Holy Roman Emperor, she was known as Empress, despite never having been officially crowned. She briefly ruled England in 1141, but lost the throne to her cousin, Stephen. But Maude won in the end – her son, Henry II, eventually became King of England and founded the Plantagenet line. On the few surviving coins from her days as queen, she is Regina Mathild.
Henry II called his firstborn daughter Maud – or Matilda – and the names continued in use throughout the next few centuries. By the 1300s, she was waning, and it is difficult to find her in the French or English historical records after the fifteenth century.
That is until the Victorian era, when a resurgence of interest in historical names helped revive Maude. Another boost came from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s collection of poems titled Maud, and the poem about the “singular beauty” herself.
In the US, Maude and Maud both ranked in the Top 1000 in the nineteenth century. Maud peaked at #68 in 1883, leaving the rankings entirely after 1933. Maude fared better, ranking as high as #20 in 1882 and remaining in the Top 100 until 1905. But Maude, too, was headed for obscurity, disappearing from the Top 1000 after 1950. Nickname Maudie also ranked.
Maude remains the more familiar spelling today. Factor in Bea Arthur’s Maude Findlay, of CBS’s All in the Family spin-off Maude, and Maud looks incomplete to the modern eye, despite her historical roots.
Today, Maud and Maude feel like promising choices for 21st century parents. She’s as tailored and frills-free as Brooke, as historical as Maeve and yet softer and more feminine than many single-syllable choices. Factor in her regal pedigree and Maud could suit a modern child surprisingly well. If you love Ann’s history but want something a smidge more distinctive, why not consider Maud?
And then there’s Maude! Bea Arthur and “maudlin” are the only two associations I get from this name. I don’t think Maud could ever be more than dowdy and clunky for me.
She’s tops for me! Not only does she honor family, but I love that crisp, tailored sound. Her color’s delightfully purple and I love the possibility of not only Maudie but Mim (Maud India MacK)!
I love the sinplicity of Maud, am not thrilled by the final ‘e’ but can deal with ot on someone else’s kid. Maud’s honey sweet but there’s steel under that satin. I love Maud.
Sorry, Lola. I can completely see why you love it, but I’m just not a fan. I love Maud India Scarlett, but I’m not a fan of Maud on its own.
Gwyneth Paltrow played a professor of Victorian literature named Maud in the movie “Possession.” If not even the beautiful Gwyneth can make me come around to this name, I’m not sure I ever will.
It’s so medieval, though, that I really *should* like it, shouldn’t I?
I’m with Allison on this one. Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s good.
I love Maud and Maude! I came across a director on IMDB, Judd Apatow (work includes Knocked Up and Superbad), who has two young daughters named Maud and Iris. Such refreshing choices in Hollywood, methinks!
Love it! (Almost completely because of you, Lola! I’d never even thought about it before, then read it on your blog, and started to love it!) Right now I’m infatuated with Annora Maud or maybe Beatrix Annora Maud. I had no clue about the connection between Maud and Matilda!
It immediately makes me think of Lucy Maud Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame. She apparently went by Maud most of the time, not Lucy. I’m not sure I could see myself using it as a first name, but put it in the middle and it could work.
Matilda, a hipsters name, even in the US?! Oh man – I got the surprise of my life a few weeks ago when I found that Matilda was #13 for my state (Victoria, Australia). When my husband and I chose the name for our daughter – early to mid 2004 – the name was barely scraping into the top 100. I don’t know about our nation-wide stats though. She’s a bit lower all-round, I think. Victoria’s fairly cool, really – Alice and Stella charted in the 40s and Zara at #26 – I was astounded!
ANYWAY, to the point! I like Maud – her simplicity is awesome, as she enfolds femininity, sweetness and strength into one little syllable, though she seems a little stuffy to me. I’d love to see her on someone else’s child, but I personally prefer Maeve immensely! She has more of that floaty feminine vibe I rather like.
I love the way that Sophie describes Maud: ‘she enfolds femininity, sweetness and strength in one little syllable’ , that balanced mixture is the key ingredient I always search for in girls names, well perhaps not the one syllable bit, but the rest…
Yet, whilst Maud is undeniably all those things, I am inclined to agree with Emmy Jo – I’m just not that into her. I too, can see what draws Lola to her, but just can’t quite get there myself. Perhaps it’s her Maudlin connotations or her slightly ‘mouldy’ sound – does anyone else get that? I think it’s the long ‘au’ sound. Either way, I want to love Medieval Maud but for whatever reason, can’t.
I’ve had Matilda on my list for several years now, and I think nn Maud may be just the shot in the arm that it needs. With Matilda supposedly taking off right about now, Maud may be the key to setting it apart. The historical connection especially pleases me and also the fact that Maud sounds much nicer in the hypothetical sibset I have rolling around in my head. I don’t care for it enough as a stand alone but applaud Lola for her bold and distinctive taste.
Rockingfetal, I like the idea of Maud as a nn for Matilda.
To be honest, my first association with Maud is Maudite – the beer! But there’s no relation. Really. And hey, part of me still thinks Stella Artois is a pretty name for a daughter. (Except no, I would never.)
Sophie, Matilda *is* a great name for a daughter and I think you’re right – Aussies are just ahead of us in terms of name trends. Besides Heath Ledger’s Matilda Rose, Molly Ringwald has Mathilda Ereni (and twins on the way)! I don’t think she’s hyper-popular yet – simply super-stylish.
And yes, Emma thanks for mentioning Judd Apatow’s daughters! How could I forget?
ahh – that reminded me – I read the birth announcements every day and there was a little girl the other day named Stella Artois, oh I cringed! The association isn’t really there down in Australia, but all the same…
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My full name is Suzannah Juliette Maud (surname) and I really like having Maud as a middle name. I’m not sure about it as a first name, but Maud’s been in my family for at least four generations. (My mum is Gillian Maud; my grandmother is Iris Maud and both my great grandmothers on my grandmothers side were called Maud). However, my Mum didn’t like the name as a kid (hence giving me two middle names, so I could choose between them if I really hated one) but she felt that she had to continue the family tradition…
I love Maud, and I especially like your full name, Suzannah!
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