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!

It reminds me of Ugly Sisters too, sorry. I like Cressida though.

dont it sounds like a german bear

Chaucer got his 'patient Griselda' from Boccaccio. She is a poor young woman who is seen by the Marquis of Saluzzo, who recognises her beauty and marries her. She has two children. Then he decides to test her, so he pretends to have got tired of her and sends her back to live in poverty with her family. He removes all her fine clothes and jewels and sends her away wearing just the shift which she'd been wearing when he first saw her. He 'tests' her faithfulness like this for years. He tells her that he has had her children killed and she doesn't react - she just says that she is totally in his power and is his to do what he wants with. Eventually recalls her pretending that he has decided to marry another woman and wants her to come and be a servant to his new wife. Again she agrees. She arrives and everything is set up for a sumptuous wedding. Again she does everything the Marquis says and eventually it turns out that the young woman the Marquis is supposed to be marrying is actually the (now grown-up) daughter she thought was dead. The son reappears too, and Griselda remarries the Marquis and they all live happily ever after???????

So... in answer to your question about the associations of the name, I couldn't use it because it suggests total wetness and subservience. (Though in the Middle Ages Griselda was held up as an example of great virtue.)

Now... Cressida I do love, but I admitted that on here once before and got told it was the most poncetastic name ever, so it may be just the two of us on that one.

A witch's name. Reminds me of this Zelda from the Terrahawks.

It's a very Terry Pratchet sort of name to me, somehow a bit too fantasy in a fairy tales sort of way to be actually usable for a child. I'd go for Cressida instead, it's also unusual but much softer. Tragic origins though. Not sure what diminutives you'd have available though.

The sound 'gris' is not a pretty sound in the English language. It sounds like grizzle, drizzle, grease. Just not great.

Witch connotations for me too. Giesela is a bit better.

I really like it, but then I think witchy names are rather cool.

Doubt many people will make connections with Chaucer, and so what if they do? Your Griselda would start the page afresh and the name would pretty quickly be associated just with her by people who know her. I don't buy into the 'grease' or 'gristle' thing either. You can do that with ANY popular name. Luke=Puke, Matt=Fat etc. etc.

Grizzie is cute and Zelda is pretty cool

Not keen - sounds like a grizzly troll woman.