I really like the name Griselda. It IS really clunky and I wouldn't be keen on using it on a living human being, I also understand why some people dislike it, but I really like it. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it it seems. Something about it feels so princessy and fairy-like, or kind of romantic, eccentric, Victorian and Gothic. It sounds like a lovely, homey, charming and very wise old lady, or like an eccentric spinster who hides a lot of secrets which no one would have thought she could be capable of having because of her not particularly interesting external appearance, or a beautiful selkie or a changeling child. You get the idea now I suppose. I like the Scottishness of this name (I like the form Grissel too). Zelda is lovely as well though I guess I prefer it as a standalone name rather than a nickname for Griselda. And I like my synaesthetic association with it, it tastes like some sort of yummy ice cream, it has a hint of lemon and caramel and something else I guess, not sure what. The Bocaccio association is of course good too. But yes, it's clunky and I don't know about the Anglosphere but here in Poland it would be unusable and a child with this name would likely be ridiculed all the time. It sounds very similar to the Polish verb "gryźć" (to bite), and all the related words. Or like the grizzly bear. Despite all the fun associations with this name that I listed above, it also reminds me of a Polish TV show for children which was a thing some fifteen years ago, featuring a squirrel called Gryzelka, which is not a bad association in itself I suppose but makes Griselda/Gryzelda feel potentially even less serious and more cumbersome as a real human name. I remember that when I was a kid the name reminded me of a mouse or something similar. And then there's the Swedish and Norwegian word gris meaning "pig", which is I guess why I don't like the nickname Griss even though it's pronounced kind of differently. I just couldn't do this to a real life child haha. But for a fictional character, a pen name, or maybe for a pet, it sounds really cool and original.
Griselda Sanderson is a Scottish fiddle and nyckelharpa player.
― Anonymous User 4/1/2023
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The standard Polish form of this name is Gryzelda, but Griselda has also been in use occasionally. As of January this year, there have been 12 women with this first name in Poland. Other 2 have it as their middle name.
Stunning! It makes me think of a lovely little old lady who always wants you to "eat just one more" of her homemade cookies. I think she'd also be someone who really loves and appreciates nature and animals.
Griselda is kind of a pretty name honestly. I like the nickname Zelda (Even though I prefer that as its own name) and Gris is also pretty as a nickname. It may mean pig in Norwegian, it means gray in Spanish, which, again is beautiful. I think the only thing stopping me is I have a relative named Griselda, so it would be confusing.
Griselda Blanco ruins this name for me. Not someone you want to have the same name as.
― Anonymous User 3/16/2018
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This is my name. It does get annoying when people pronounce it wrong or when they spell it wrong. I like to think of my name as a princess name. Something someone royal would use. Personally, I do NOT like my name, but I do think it is a unique, and cool name.
― Anonymous User 3/13/2018
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If I think of the name in an English context, it works. However, if I take my native language into account, it's a bad name. "Gris" means pig in Norwegian and is obviously a no-go here.
― Anonymous User 9/4/2017
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Griselda Yeung is a Hong Kong actress and sister of actress Tavia Yeung. She changed her English name to Lenna. While her sister graduated from TVB Acting Class, she joined Miss Hong Kong 2001 and received the Creative Cooperation Award with her group. She is best known for her role as Concubine Suen in Can't Buy Me Love and as a lawyer in Come Home Love.
This is my name and I'll admit it is a bit frustrating when people can't pronounce it. But it's very mysterious, old, and unique. Witch or no witch I think it's a very great name.
― Anonymous User 5/10/2009
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The name makes me think about sizzling butter and grease on a frying pan.
Wow, I'm suprised no one mentioned this."Your Auntie Grizelda" is a song made by the Monkees, sung by Peter Tork. Hums in my head "You look just like her you do, I know by looking at you that you've been listening to Your Auntie Grizelda." :D
― Anonymous User 7/8/2007
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Griselda Pollock is a feminist art historian from UK.
Griselda is the heroine in the Clerk's Tale of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. She is a poor, virtuous, young girl, who marries the Marquis Walter, and endures his tests of her fidelity with patience and devotion.
Griselda was the first name of Lady Dumbello (!) in Trollope's Palliser novels. (He was fond of giving his characters strange surnames. This one is not apt.)
Griselda, of course, has not come into high demand as of late. Aside from its similarity to the words "grizzled" and "gristled," this can be blamed on the Monkee's "Your Auntie Grizelda."
Griselda, carries strength in every curve of it's letters. It gives an erotic tongue roll & smooth flow as it is spoken, whispered and vows eternal love. How could anyone say, "No" to the name, "Griselda"? You only steer from it, if intimidated by the name and/or image attached to it. It's passionate, bold, fierce yet soulful, warm and seductive. Princess Griselda, by sunlight. By moon, defender of all that need her. Griselda may not be a common name but it can arouse an affair of curiosity.
But yes, it's clunky and I don't know about the Anglosphere but here in Poland it would be unusable and a child with this name would likely be ridiculed all the time. It sounds very similar to the Polish verb "gryźć" (to bite), and all the related words. Or like the grizzly bear. Despite all the fun associations with this name that I listed above, it also reminds me of a Polish TV show for children which was a thing some fifteen years ago, featuring a squirrel called Gryzelka, which is not a bad association in itself I suppose but makes Griselda/Gryzelda feel potentially even less serious and more cumbersome as a real human name. I remember that when I was a kid the name reminded me of a mouse or something similar. And then there's the Swedish and Norwegian word gris meaning "pig", which is I guess why I don't like the nickname Griss even though it's pronounced kind of differently. I just couldn't do this to a real life child haha.
But for a fictional character, a pen name, or maybe for a pet, it sounds really cool and original.