Meaning: to pledge
Origin: France
Alternate spellings: Gisele, Gizelle, Gizele
Giselle is a French name that comes from the German word gisil which means “pledge.” Apparently in medieval Europe it was common to, uh, abandon your child to someone else as a pledge of your alliance to another country or a foreign court.
Yikes.
But you can tell your little girl it means you pledge to give her cookies as often as you can. Giselle made the popular baby names list in 1983 at #795 and has slowly been chosen by more parents over the years.
By The Numbers
U.S. Rank by Year
2000: 212
2004: 181
2008: 136
Rank of Similar Names in 2008
Gisselle 653
Gia 722
Giana 633
Giselle Ratings
Here’s how Babble readers rate Giselle. How would you rate her temperament?
