Gilda
Gilda is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Sacrifice, value, or covered in gold.
Origin and history
Gilda is a feminine name of Germanic origin, derived from elements meaning 'sacrifice', 'value', or 'golden'. It gained historical recognition through Verdi's famous 1851 opera Rigoletto, which featured the tragic heroine Gilda. Though widely recognized in the mid-20th century in the United States, it is relatively rare for modern American newborns today.
Popularity in the United States
10,078 babies in the United States have been named Gilda since 1880. It ranks #1634 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2061.
States where it is most popular
- NY (27.4 %)
- PA (10.2 %)
- CA (10 %)
- TX (9.2 %)
- MA (6.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 6 |
| 1900-1910 | 94 |
| 1910-1920 | 899 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,160 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,224 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,520 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,079 |
| 1960-1970 | 913 |
| 1970-1980 | 462 |
| 1980-1990 | 265 |
| 1990-2000 | 262 |
| 2000-2010 | 92 |
| 2010-2019 | 62 |
| 2020-2029 | 40 |
Famous people named Gilda
- Gilda Radner: Comedian, Actress
Fun facts
- The name gained widespread cultural prominence as the central tragic heroine in Giuseppe Verdi's 1851 opera Rigoletto.
- It was famously used as the title character played by Rita Hayworth in the classic 1946 film noir Gilda.