Girl name · Germanic
Hilda
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: battle, combatHilda is a girl's name that comes from Germanic and means "battle, combat". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Battle, combat
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #3007 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Hilda
As a girl's name, Hilda comes from Germanic and means "battle, combat". It is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Spanish.
In Spanish, say EEL-dah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Its meaning puts Hilda on our names that mean warrior list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Hilda on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Hilda on 7 lists.
“From an old Germanic word meaning battle”
From Female demon hunter names, names that mean light, hunt or battle
“Cypress County hamlet named for the first postmaster's infant daughter”
From Funny town names in Alberta, backward names and surprising namesakes
“Old Norse for battle, short and sturdy”
From Girl dog names, strong female dog names
“Battle; Germanic. Say EEL-dah”
From Mexican girl names, classic Mexican female names
“Battle, combat; Germanic. Name of a 7th-century English abbess saint”
From Names that mean warrior, girl names that mean warrior
“Sturdy, dependable and never late for dinner”
From Goat names, girl goat names
“Battle, combat; Germanic. Valkyrie energy in two syllables”
From Strong female names, warrior names for girls
How popular is Hilda?
- US rank in 2025
- #3,007
- 55 babies, 34 per million girls
- Best rank
- #87 in 1899
- Most babies: 2,128 in 1921
- Babies since 1880
- At least 81,022
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 975 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,130 per million |
| 1900s | 2,317 per million |
| 1910s | 1,922 per million |
| 1920s | 1,522 per million |
| 1930s | 887 per million |
| 1940s | 522 per million |
| 1950s | 328 per million |
| 1960s | 197 per million |
| 1970s | 167 per million |
| 1980s | 111 per million |
| 1990s | 76 per million |
| 2000s | 45 per million |
| 2010s | 26 per million |
| 2020s | 32 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,809 | #4,097 | #3,456 | #3,298 | #3,420 | #3,411 | #2,839 | #2,991 | #3,029 | #3,007 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Hilda
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- HeddaBattle (Germanic, girl)
- HildeBattle (Germanic, girl)
- JadwigaBattle, combat (Germanic, girl)
Names spelled like Hilda
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- HildBattle (Old Norse, girl)
- HilaHalo, aura (Hebrew, girl)
- HelgaHoly, blessed (Old Norse, girl)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
- HalaHalo around the moon (Arabic, girl)
- HallaRock (Old Norse, girl)
- HelmaWill and helmet (Germanic, girl)
- HibaGift, present (Arabic, girl)
- HildurBattle (Old Norse, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- MatildaStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
- ClotildeFamous battle (Germanic, girl)
- MathildeStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
- MatildeStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
- MaudStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
- HedwigBattle, warfare (Germanic, girl)
- HedyBattle, warfare (Germanic, girl)
- ImeldaGreat battle (Germanic, girl)
- MafaldaStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
- MathildaStrength in battle (Germanic, girl)
Middle names for Hilda
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Germanic
- EmmaWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- AlinaShort form of Adelina, Albina and names ending in -alina (Germanic, girl)
- AliceNobility, of noble kind (Germanic, girl)
- CharlotteFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AdaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdelaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdeleNoble one (Germanic, girl)
- AmeliaPossibly vigorous, brave (Germanic, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
Hilda: common questions
What does the name Hilda mean?
Hilda comes from Germanic and means "battle, combat".
Is Hilda a boy or girl name?
Hilda is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Hilda come from?
Hilda comes from Germanic and means "battle, combat". Today it is used in English, German, Scandinavian and Spanish.
How popular is the name Hilda?
Hilda ranked #3,007 in the US in 2025, with 55 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Hilda?
Forms of Hilda with the same meaning and origin include Hedda (Scandinavian), Hilde (German) and Jadwiga (Polish).
What middle names go with Hilda?
Middle names that flow well with Hilda include Abigail, Gabrielle, Juniper, Louisa and Margaret. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.