Matilda (song) definition

Name of medieval royalty, Latinized form of maht,meht "might" + hild "battle".

: III: iii: 13:

But wondrously begotten, and begonne

By false illusion of a guilefull Spright,

On a faire Ladie Nonne, that whilome hight

Matilda, daughter to Pubidius,
1844 George Payne Rainsford James: Rose D'Albret, Or, Troublous Times, a Romance. Harper 1844. page 20:

Countess of Laussitz - Matilda, too, by the mark! A good name, a marvellous good name, is not, Algernon? Musical, pretty, soft, smoothing, loveable. - - - many a fair prospect is spoiled by the mistake in the name. Call Matilda Joan, or Louisa Deborah, and you are ruined forever!
1990 Alice Munro: Friend of My Youth.Stories. ISBN 0679729577 page 187:

At one time Joan invented other names for her. 'Matilda' brought to mind dingy curtains, gray tent flaps, a slack-skinned old woman. How about Sharon? Lilliane? Elizabeth? Then, Joan didn't know how, the name Matilda became transformed. It started shining like silver. The "il" in it was silver. But not metallic. In Joan's mind the name gleamed now like a fold of satin.