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Griselda

59 replies

AnonymousRegular · 20/11/2009 11:18

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!

OP posts:
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Tortington · 20/11/2009 11:19

go for it
i hope you and baby grizzly are happy

RnB · 20/11/2009 11:20

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

ZZZenAgain · 20/11/2009 11:20

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.

Pineapplechunks · 20/11/2009 11:23

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

Not keen.

Initio · 20/11/2009 11:23

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

birdofthenorth · 20/11/2009 11:24

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?!

teameric · 20/11/2009 11:27

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

birdofthenorth · 20/11/2009 11:28

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!

Initio · 20/11/2009 11:28

Grizzie is quite a cute nickname though.

HollyGoHeavily · 20/11/2009 11:30

For me Griselda = fairytale witch.

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

Tortington · 20/11/2009 11:30

6 yo boys wont say grizzie

grizzly

AnonymousRegular · 20/11/2009 11:30

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.

OP posts:
nannynobnobs · 20/11/2009 11:33

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!

Tortington · 20/11/2009 11:34

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

FunnyLittleFrog · 20/11/2009 11:35

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.

gagamama · 20/11/2009 11:39

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!

bibbitybobbityhat · 20/11/2009 11:39

Sorry, don't like it at all.

Quite like Esmerelda though ...

birdofthenorth · 20/11/2009 11:41

Ooh I like Isadora for Izzy!

birdofthenorth · 20/11/2009 11:42

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

AnonymousRegular · 20/11/2009 11:42

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...

OP posts:
Marioandluigi · 20/11/2009 11:46

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

FunnyLittleFrog · 20/11/2009 11:50

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.

Skegness · 20/11/2009 11:56

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

jeee · 20/11/2009 11:57

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

Jux · 20/11/2009 12:01

Patient Griselda from the Decameron, a book set during the plague in Europe when everyone was running away from the cities and holing up in palazzos in the country. They told each other stories to pass the time (in the book anyway!). Patient Griselda was one of the last ones. Can't remember much about the story, but I associate it in my mind with Odysseus' wife constantly sewing and unpicking and sewing again, whilst she waite for her dh to come home from the Trojan war. Not sure what Griselda was being patient about but I'm pretty sure she did a lot of sewing...

The mum of one of my oldest friends was called Griselda - the only one I'd met in rl. She was lovely.

I'd go for it.