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Origin: German

Meaning: Strength in battle

Machteld is the Dutch form of Matilda. This feminine title is composed of the Germanic elements maht, meaning “strength,” and hild, meaning “battle,” giving this the overall meaning of “strength in battle.” This name is often associated with the beloved title character from the 1988 Roald Dahl book Matilda, which centers on an intelligent and kind-hearted child with extraordinary powers. Never without a book in hand, Matilda uses her wit and telekinesis to defend herself and her classmates from the cruelty of their school’s headmaster as well as Matilda’s family in both the novel and its 1996 and 2022 film adaptations. A name that inspires courage, loyalty, and brilliance, Machteld is the perfect fit for a clever little bookworm.