Tillie is a pet form of Matilda, a Germanic name that means "mighty in battle" or "strength in battle", from maht, might, and hild, battle. It was a common nickname in the early 1900s and has returned with the wave of vintage nicknames like Millie, Hattie and Winnie, helped by Matilda's own comeback. Tillie has climbed from number 5,925 in 2000 to a best rank of number 1,235 in 2024 and ranks number 1,269 in 2025.