Griselda

Griselda is a female first name that has its origins in Italian and traces back to a tragic figure from the 14th century.

What does the name Griselda mean?

The name Griselda, which originates from Italian, translates to 'the gray warrior woman,' 'the gray heroine,' or 'the gray-haired heroine.' It is composed of the Old French word gris for 'gray' and the Old High German element hiltja for 'the fight' or 'the warrior.' The name's popularity is based on the Italian legendary figure Griseldis, who has been referenced in numerous works of European literature. The name is also common in its Latinized form Griseldis. In Germany, Griselda has been used since the early 1900s. Variants of the name include Grizelda, Griselde, Grisella, Grisel, and Gryzelda. The short form Zelda is commonly used, while the male equivalent is Griseld. The legend is mentioned in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales.' Boccaccio's 'Il Decamerone' particularly contributed to the name's popularity in Italy. In Germany, the first name appears in a novella by Heinrich Steinhöwel and in a work by Hans Sachs.

Where does the name Griselda come from?

The origin of the name Griselda is both Old French and Old High German and means 'the gray warrior woman.'

How do you pronounce Griselda?

The pronunciation of the name Griselda is three syllables and has a distinctive sound. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Gri-sel-da' [ɡʁiˈzɛlda]. The name begins with a strong consonant cluster that gives it substance. However, the bright i-syllable at the beginning adds a certain lightness. The middle syllable with the voiced s brings movement to the pronunciation before the open -a gently concludes. Thus, Griselda is powerful yet dignified, traditional and sonorous with a clear contour.

When is the name day of Griselda?

The name day for Griselda is celebrated on November 30.

Popularity

In Germany, Griselda is a relatively commonly used first name. Currently, it ranks 3,210th among the most popular female first names. Its best placement was in 2015 at 2,766th. Over the last ten years, Griselda has been given as a first name about 40 times, placing it at 4,479th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 5,171st. The global popularity is also reflected in its rankings in other countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Griesbrei / Grisi / Seldi / Zelda

Similar first names

Famous people

• Ana Griselda Vegas (Venezuelan model)
• Griselda Alvarez (Mexican writer)
• Griselda Gambaro (Argentinian playwright)
• Griselda Gonzalez (Spanish long-distance runner)
• Griselda Pollock (South African art historian)
• Griselda Siciliani (Argentinian actress)
• Griselda Yeung (Hong Kong actress)