The nameGiselle
Giselle is a girl's name of Germanic origin meaning "pledge". The heroine of a famous romantic ballet, it is elegant and graceful.
- Girl's name
- Germanic
Meaning
Giselle comes from the Germanic gisil, "pledge, hostage".
Origin
Germanic, through French. Gisela, sister of Charlemagne, bore an early form.
History
Adolphe Adam's ballet Giselle (1841) made the name famous. Disney's Enchanted (2007), whose heroine is Giselle, gave it a boost in the United States, where it reached the top 140.
Famous people named Giselle
- Giselle, heroine of the ballet
- Giselle, Enchanted character
- Gisele Bündchen, model (Gisele)
Popularity of the name Giselle
Giselle in the United States
Giselle was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 19,741 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Giselle. Its rise began around 1987, and it peaked in 2007. Half of all babies named Giselle in the United States were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 890 births a year on average, against 1,241 in the five years before.
Giselle in the United Kingdom
Giselle was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 284 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Giselle. Half of all babies named Giselle in the United Kingdom were born before 2009, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers.
Giselle in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Giselle
Names from the same generation as Giselle, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Giselle? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Giselle with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Giselle side by side with the name of your choice.
Giselle in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Giselle mean?
Giselle comes from the Germanic gisil, "pledge, hostage".
What is the origin of the name Giselle?
Germanic, through French. Gisela, sister of Charlemagne, bore an early form.
Is Giselle a girl's or a boy's name?
Giselle is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Giselle?
In 2024, Giselle was the 356th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 871 births.
What are the variants of the name Giselle?
Variants and related names of Giselle include Gisele.
What are good sibling names for Giselle?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Mya, Kaylee, Gracie and Carmen for a sister, Raymond, Emanuel, Damien and Frank for a brother.
Who are famous people named Giselle?
Giselle, heroine of the ballet; Giselle, Enchanted character; Gisele Bündchen, model (Gisele).