Griselda
Griselda is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Grey battle, dark battle heroine, or dark warrior.
Origin and history
Griselda is a classic feminine name of Germanic origin, traditionally interpreted as meaning 'dark battle' or 'grey battle heroine'. The name was popularized in medieval literature through Boccaccio's Decameron and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, symbolising patience and fortitude. In the United States, it has been steadily used throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, maintaining a distinct vintage charm.
Popularity in the United States
9,124 babies in the United States have been named Griselda since 1880. It ranks #1744 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1835.
States where it is most popular
- CA (51.9 %)
- TX (32.4 %)
- IL (7.1 %)
- AZ (2.8 %)
- FL (1.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 23 |
| 1930-1940 | 41 |
| 1940-1950 | 77 |
| 1950-1960 | 208 |
| 1960-1970 | 550 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,703 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,231 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,299 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,227 |
| 2010-2019 | 489 |
| 2020-2029 | 266 |
Famous people named Griselda
- Griselda Blanco: Historical figure
- Griselda Pollock: Art historian, Academic
- Griselda Alvarez: Politician, Writer
Nicknames
Grisel, Zelda, Gris
Fun facts
- Patient Griselda is a famed figure of medieval literature who appears in Boccaccio's Decameron and Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale.
- The name combines ancient Germanic elements likely corresponding to 'gris' (grey/dark) and 'hild' (battle).