Hilda

Updated: October 27, 2023 by Olivia Mittak

Hilda was originally a nickname for Brunhilda. This harsh origin makes this baby name still appear strong and brutal. Despite this powerful status, Hilda is a top 6,000 option for girls in America.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Hilda:

Hilda began as a nickname for other German names. It represented those titles that began with the “hild” prefix. Hilda became popular in Old England and Germany before the seventh century. Saint Hilda of Whitby continued to spread this title throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. It dropped off for a while after, getting revived in the 1800s. The name means “battle woman”.

Symbolism of the Name Hilda:

The baby name Hilda now has a specific meaning, despite starting as a nickname for longer titles. It comes from the prefix “hild” in the Germanic language. “Hild” translates to “battle” in English, making Hilda mean “battle woman”.

Nicknames for the Name Hilda:

Hilda is a fierce name. If you want a fierce nickname to go along with it, you have some options. If you want something softer, there are plenty of options there, too. Check out our full list of nicknames for Hilda here:

Hil
Hillie
Hilly
Hildie
Hildy
Hildi
Ilda
Ildes
Hils
Da
Hild
Hilds
Hildinator
Little Warrior
Hila
Hia

Style of the Name Hilda:

Traditional

Gender of the Name Hilda:

Hilda is an old-fashioned name for girls.

Pronunciation of the Name Hilda:

HIL-duh or HIL-da

Number of Syllables in the Name Hilda:

Two

Emotion Evoked From the Name Hilda:

Hilda is a vintage-sounding and formal name for girls. It is wholesome and strong.

Alternative Spellings for the Name Hilda:

Hillda
Hylda
Hyllda

Popularity of the Name Hilda:

Hilda was a top 100 baby name in America from 1901 to 1906. It ranked highest in 1903 at number 88. Hilda stayed on the top 1,000 list until 1986, when it was at rank 934. As of 2021, Hilda is number 5,925 for girls.