Giselle

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Giselle

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, French
Etymology:
Giselle is the modern French form of an old Germanic name meaning “Hostage” or “Pledge,” from the Germanic “gisl.”

History:
One theory is that the name Giselle began as a descriptive word, one used in a certain medieval custom. In this custom rival noblemen would send their children to be raised at each other’s court, as a pledge to ensure friendship and peace between the two. In Germanic courts this child would be a “gisil.”

In the 9th century, we begin to see royal princesses named Giselle. The pious and popular Gisela (995-1085), wife of King Stephen I of Hungary helped make the name common in Europe.

In spite of the 1841 ballet Giselle, the name was not common in the English-speaking world. In the United States, it was found only among French-speaking immigrants.

However, Giselle continued in use in Europe, and especially France (where it became quite popular in the early-to-mid-20th century).

Giselle has lately become common in the United States.

Pronunciation: jee-sell, gee-sell (original, Germanic)

Diminutives: Gigi.

Alternates: Gisele, Gisella, Gisela, Giselda, Gisselle, Gisel, Gizèle.
Hungarian: Gizi.

Famous Bearers:
Fictional Characters:
Giselle (1841)
A ballet about a peasant girl’s tragic love story.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.006 % named Gisela
0.004 % named Giselle
0.003 % named Gisele

Popularity of Giselle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 640th most popular.
1990: 655th most popular.
1991: 804th most popular.
1992: 732nd most popular.
1993: 409th most popular.
1994: 590th most popular.
1995: 569th most popular.
1996: 605th most popular.
1997: 310th most popular.
1998: 254th most popular.
1999: 224th most popular.
2000: 216th most popular.
2001: 216th most popular.
2002: 219th most popular.
2003: 185th most popular.

In France...
1900: N/A
1909: 172nd most popular.
1910: 155th most popular.
1920: 116th most popular.
1930: 140th most popular.
1940: 199th most popular.
1950: N/A

Popularity of Gisselle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1990: N/A
1997: 744th most popular.
1998: 643rd most popular.
1999: 447th most popular.
2000: 367th most popular.
2001: 381st most popular.
2002: 449th most popular.
2003: 510th most popular.

Popularity of Giséle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900: N/A
1902: 178th most popular.
1910: 79th most popular.
1920: 33rd most popular.
1930: 23rd most popular.
1940: 29th most popular.
1950: 37th most popular.
1960: 70th most popular.
1970: 137th most popular.
1973: 194th most popular.
1980: N/A