Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Maude
GirlEnglish, Germanic· “strength in battle”
- Meaning
- strength in battle
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- MAWD
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #3,367
- US babies 2025
- 46
- Best rank
- #20 (1882)
- Peak year
- 1888
Meaning and origin of Maude
Maude is an English and Germanic name that means “strength in battle”.
Maude is a medieval English form of Matilda, from the Germanic maht, strength, and hild, battle. Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England, was known as Maud, and Queen Maud of Norway was a later royal bearer. Tennyson's poem Maud brought the name renewed attention in the nineteenth century. It is said MAWD, one syllable. The final e is a stylistic choice seen in older records. Maude has a vintage, literary charm that has drawn new interest among parents who like short old-fashioned names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Maud.
Popularity over time
Maude has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 71 different years. Its best national rank was #20 in 1882, and the most babies received it in 1888, when 1,396 were named Maude. In 2025, 46 babies were named Maude, and it ranked #3,367 nationally. That is 188% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #249 in 1920, #994 in 1950, #6,174 in 1980, #12,656 in 2000, #14,446 in 2010, and #3,367 in 2025. Of the 45,754 US girls named Maude since records began, 25% were born in the 1880s, its biggest decade. The 1890s come next, with 11,304 babies. Since 2010, 349 more have been named Maude.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Maude ranked highest in Utah and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #788 | 5 |
| California | #2412 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Maude is usually pronounced MAWD, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-de”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Maud.
Middle names for Maude
A few middle names that flow with Maude: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Maude
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Lists that include Maude
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maude mean?
Maude is an English and Germanic name that means “strength in battle”.
What is the origin of the name Maude?
Maude has English and Germanic roots. Maude is a medieval English form of Matilda, from the Germanic maht, strength, and hild, battle.
Is Maude a popular name?
Not especially. Maude ranked #3,367 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Maude a boy or girl name?
Maude is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Maude?
Maude is usually pronounced MAWD. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings