Mumsnet Talk

I think it's really pretty and elegant. It's different - I've never met one - and as someone with a really common name, it's important to me that my DC aren't one of five with the same name in their class (I know first-hand how annoying that can be). But people will (I think) still have heard of it and know how to spell and pronounce it etc. Also, it doesn't really have any "connotations" e.g. being associated with any particular age group/social class/part of the country etc.

Was wondering what people think about this? What would be your impression of a "Griselda" (let's face it, a lot of people make assumptions about someone based on their name)?

PS have namechanged as its a v unusual name and don't want any RL mates to spot this!

go for it
i hope you and baby grizzly are happy

Sorry, I don't like it at all. Sounds like a witch

I'm sorry I don't know why exactly but the image the name conjures up for me is different to the one you have. I don't find it pretty or elegant but I don't really know why.

I agree it really isn't a common name and I have never met anyone in RL called Griselda.

She's one of the ugly sisters in Disney's Cinderella.

Not keen.

Sorry have to agree with RnB,it's a bit witchy.

I often love unuasual names but I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Griselda. Sounds like a witch to me, sorry! Also Gris isn't a great nickname (grissle/ grizzly), if anyone shortened it that way. I quite like Selda or Zelda for short though!

I do like Gretta though, or Gretchen at a push, on similar themes? Or Imelda, or Esmerelda?!

I'm not a fan, but if you really love it go for it. I really like Greta too.
I wanted to call my DD Gertie but DH refused

PS on 'connatations' for some reason I think I would assume a Griselda was very posh... I think I have that bias about all the "xxxxelda" names for some reason, sorry!

Grizzie is quite a cute nickname though.

For me Griselda = fairytale witch.

Having said that, i've heard a lot worse!

6 yo boys wont say grizzie

grizzly

Funny that a few of you mentioned witches - there's a character called this in the Worst Witch series. Maybe that's where the association comes from...

Thanks for the comments so far, always good to get other people's thoughts on this - after all, I won't be the one living with the name...

Was thinking Izzy for a nickname (although doubtless there'd be a few "Grizzly Griselda" comments in the playground).

Alternative is Cressida, but not sure of that's a bit too "aspirational"/ponce-tastic.

My mum used to call me 'Griselda the witch' because I always pulled horrible faces when she wanted to take nice photos of me. So it's always a witch's name for me too, sorry
You could always go for Isadora if you like Izzy as a nickname... just stay away from those long scarves!

hey heres a revelation - you don't pick the nick name

some are pretty obvious like julie will be jules etc.

other people naturally shorten things.

you really don't 'pick' the nick

Patient Griselda was a super-obedient wife in Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale. She allowed her two children to be taken away and killed (or so she thought) to show her husband how obedient to him she was.

My mum always said I was being 'a Griselda' as a child when I was being monstrous. I would associate it with someone who is grizzly and unpleasant for no reason. HTH!

Sorry, don't like it at all.

Quite like Esmerelda though ...

Ooh I like Isadora for Izzy!

Custardo... partly agree but there's no harm in avoiding names where the obvious nicknames could lead to a life of teasing!

FLF - agree that Patient Griselda is a crap role model for girls.

Custy - do you think it always works like that with people shortening names? I mean, if an Elizabeth was always known as Beth, would you just start calling her Lizzie? I had just assumed that if I introduced DD with a shortened name then people would use that.

Cannot quite believe this is one of the five most active threads right now...

Im with Gagamama - if me or my sister were sulky or whiny she would say be were being 'A Grizelda'

And imagine if she has a bit of teenage greasy skin and hair later on - lots of potential there for nasty name calling of the grease-elda variety.

Horrible sounding name! She was a dishonourable pill in the Chalet School too...

I'm with Skegness - I thought Chalet School too.