So, I really love the name [name_f]Mathilde[/name_f] (pronounced Mah - teeld), but I live in [name_u]America[/name_u]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think I could still use this name, or do you think it’s too out there for an American? I really wasn’t sure because I’ve known this name for my entire life (we have a family friend from [name_f]France[/name_f] named [name_f]Mathilde[/name_f]), so to me it sounds familiar. But I was just wondering how it would be received by others. What are your thoughts?
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I think it’s usable in the US. You may get some questions about pronunciation, but letting people know how to pronounce it correctly shouldn’t be too hard. Once they hear it a time or two, there shouldn’t be any further issues.
It’s a great name.
Agreed! I think it’s so sweet and antique.
I’m an American who took 5 years of [name_u]French[/name_u] and for whatever reason, I still struggle with this name. I think most people would think [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], but I can imagine the visible confusion on somebody’s face when they have to go to pronounce the name. Unless you have a [name_u]French[/name_u] population around you, I’d think it’d be a struggle. You’d likely have to spell it with every verbal transaction.
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Being from the States and not knowing any [name_u]French[/name_u], I’ve never known someone with this name. I think first attempts will mostly sound like [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], “muth-ILLD” (rhyming with filled), or even “muh-THILD” (rhyming with child). You could still absolutely use the name, but you would have to have some patience with the Americans. In some cases, knowing it’s [name_u]French[/name_u] might make people appreciate it more.
I think it could work and doesn’t seem too weird, however I have studied [name_u]French[/name_u] for quite a few years (all through high school and college) and am a name nerd so my view may be skewed.
I do think you’ll get some mispronunciations anything from [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], to Muh-th-ild or muh-tild. However this isn’t a name that is hard to remember the correct pronunciation once told so I don’t think it’d [name_m]Ben[/name_m] that big of a deal. And it would only be a problem if someone is reading the name then trying to say it (as in a teacher taking roll or something like that)
It works.
I think it could work. I think it’s fairly intuitive
I think the pronunciation is intuitive and the spelling is familiar. [name_m]Can[/name_m]’t see any issues with it.
I believe it works! It’s a gorgeous name
It would be hard, but you might be able to do it.
Im in the US and [name_m]Ive[/name_m] never heard of it. Definitely would assume something close to [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] by just reading it. I think you can use it of course but its not going to be familiar or easy to spell/pronounce right off the bat. If that bugs you I would consider [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] instead.
I agree with this, especially about spelling.
I assumed Muh-tilled when I first saw it. I also don’t like [name_m]Math[/name_m]- at the beginning, since all I can think of is mathematics
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Should only take one time to correct and ppl will get it. No foreign sounds or letters to contend with.
But daughter would be the one having to spell it / request corrections to her name’s pronunciation all the time. Having gone through life wirh a similar constant correction of “yes it’s X, but I go by Y” … I can say that dreaded my name being called for that reason…having to constantly say that and be “that person.” There’s something very normalizing / sense of belonging that comes from having a name that ppl immediately recognize and view as ‘belonging’ if you will.
Matilda would fit the American gammut of familiar names a lot more effortlessly.
I’m not sure. The name is really pretty and I actually like it more than [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]. But it definitely won’t be pronounced with a [name_u]French[/name_u] accent and may just get butchered a lot. I would maybe do it as a middle name instead of a first. Unless your heart is really set on it, then I say go for it but it will take patience, correcting and your daughter will have to do the same quite a bit… But on the other hand I think once people know the correct pronunciation its fairly intuitive. So up to you. [name_f]My[/name_f] vote would probably be middle name.
I have a close friend named [name_f]Matilde[/name_f], she pronounces it Muh-till-de. Everyone gets that pronunciation right. I feel like it’s usable, it might take correction for pronunciation, but nothing too much.