Griselda

[AnonymousRegular]

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!

Ah I see I cross posted. Still pretty sure she was from the Decameron though, but likely to be the same story. Maybe you should rethink!

I don´t like the name but I think in an Anthony Trollope book she was elegant & beautiful.

Just this morning I finished rereading "Framley Parsonage" by Anthony Trollope. There's a young lady, Griselda Grantly, who is making her debut in society and manages to bag a very wealthy marquis. She is the beauty of the season with excellent taste and style, very well bred. She doesn't have a lot of personality or depth, though. But at least it's an association with a beautiful girl that does not involve baby-killing. In the earlier books in the series there are references to her as Grizzel as a little girl -- not sure I like that, though.

It just sounds ugly as a name, yes, and witchy. But I can see how it could be appealing. I considered Gretchen for my dd, which is equally harsh sounding. So glad I came to my senses.

There are so many lovely, but still unusual names about, why that one?

I love Gretchen

Me too Initio - but it is quite a scratchy sounding name, like Griselda, and I wonder if she could have been teased for it...

No, Griselda Grantley later turns out (I think it's in 'Can You Forgive Her') to be incredibly unpleasant. Mind you, I think possibly Trollope's making some kind of deliberate point about the Patient Griselda story. Griselda Grantley appears to do nothing 'wrong', in comparison to the female characters who are busy making all kinds of mistakes with their lives, but it's clear that doing nothing isn't enough.

Having said that, I do quite like it as a name!

do you like the name Izella? think it could be Cornish and has the same sounds as Griselda but much prettier and the one I know has multiple nns eg Zellie, Zell etc.

Prefer others suggested on this thread, and also Cosima.

I haven't heard the name in years.

When I was at primary school, I had a long green and brown striped scarf, which I used to pretend was a snake. It was called Griselda.

GrendelsMum, what do you mean? I don't remember any time in any of the Barsetshire or Palliser novels in which Griselda Grantly/Marchioness of Hartletop is "incredibly unpleasant," but I could be forgetting something.

I totally agree with your description -- she's a completely empty character, and she's also a snob. Nevertheless, she is beautiful and there's no child murder, so that's better than the other Griseldas mentioned in the thread so far.

GrendelsMum, what do you mean? I don't remember any time in any of the Barsetshire or Palliser novels in which Griselda Grantly/Marchioness of Hartletop is "incredibly unpleasant," but I could be forgetting something.

I totally agree with your description -- she's a completely empty character, and she's also a snob. Nevertheless, she is beautiful and there's no child murder, so that's better than the other Griseldas mentioned in the thread so far.

Sorry, technical error -- didn't mean to post twice. (Now have posted 3x!)

Doesn't Griselda Grantly commit adultery? After being completely cold when she got married, she then does something utterly dreadful with someone unconscionable? not that anyone will remember, but I must say, it's a name it's hard to love. Gretchen also tricky - there is a Nancy Mitford phrase 'she's a real little Gretchen' which I think connotes stolid and German.

I'm not surprised that you haven't met one! It is always the name of the baddy in stories.

It's a horrible, horrible name.

I love Zelda, but not gristle.

My friend at school had an Aunt Griselda known as Aunt Grizzle. Not a nice name, sorry.

I really like it and may steal it for my shortlist (sorry). It's an independent, strong name for a girl.
The question I ask for the more unusual ones is - would I have liked to be called that as a child and adult?

I don't like it at all, sorry.

I like Giselle or Gisela.

It's in The Small House at Allingham - Griselda Grantley has a flirtation with Plantaganet Palliser, and manages to manipulate everyone to her own advantage in the end:

ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/trollope/anthony/allington/chapter55.html

If I was going for a Trollope name, it would have to be Glencora.