Griselda

Gri-ZEL-da

German

"grey battle"

Griselda Origin and Meaning

The name Griselda is a girl's name of German origin meaning "grey battle".

Griselda is a famous folklore figure, noted for her patience and obedience. Her story has been told by Petrarch, Chaucer, Boccaccio and set to music by Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Massenet.

In the most famous telling of her story, Griselda's husband tests her fidelity and obedience three times. Once at the birth of her daughter, whom he asks Griselda to give up to be put to death. Griselda agrees. Her husband asks the same of their second child, a son. Again, Griselda agrees. Finally, her husband renounces her to marry another. Uncomplainingly, Griselda leaves. Eventually her husband reveals that he was testing her, and surprises her by showing her her alive and well children and taking her back in.

Griselda is Anglicized as Grisell or Grizell. Zelda makes an attractive nickname option.

Griselda Rank in US Top 1000

# 998 in the US

Griselda Popularity

• 1633 Nameberry 2023
• 409 Mexico 2021

20 Names Similar to Griselda

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Griselda.

• Brunhilda
• Hermia
• Hildegarde
• Helga
• Mehitabel
• Myrna
• Hortense
• Ghislaine
• Eunice
• Irma
• Annica
• Mitra
• Clothilde
• Clorinda
• Alastrina
• Ofira
• Alphonse
• Jaz
• Shirley
• Jessalyn

Famous People Named Griselda

• Griselda Blanco Colombian drug lord
• Griselda Gambaro b. 1928, Argentina's most celebrated playwright
• Griselda Siciliani Argentinian actress
• Griselda Greaves wife of English novelist Alan Garner

Griselda in Pop Culture

• Griselda perfect wife whose patience was sorely tried by her husband in "The Decameron" (1350)
• "Griselda " opera by Alessandro Scarlatti based on The Decameron
• Griselda Blackwood character from TV's "The Worst Witch"
• Griselda character in "The Cuckoo Clock" (1877) by Mrs Molesworth
• Griselda Grantly (later Lady Dumbello) character in Anthony Trollope's Chronicles of Barsetshire series
• Barbara Griselda the hideous Countess Gruffanuff (wife to Jenkins) in Thackeray's "The Rose and the Ring" (1855)
• Griselda minor character in the video game Odin Sphere
• Griselda minor character in Sword Art Online
• "Auntie Griselda " song by The Monkees
• "Griselda " song by Yo La Tengo
• Griselda a dryad in Marissa Burt's "Storybound"