Gisselle

Giselle and Gisselle are both variant spellings of the French female name Gisѐle which comes from the Germanic word “gisíl” meaning “pledge”. The name is thought to be derived from the medieval practice of leaving children in foreign courts to be brought up as “pledges” for an alliance. Gisѐle was the wife of Duke Rollo (Rolf) of Normandy in the 10th century. Rollo was a Viking leader to whom the lands of Normandy were granted by France’s King Charles III under the provisions of a treaty after Rollo’s defeat in Paris. Gisѐle, the king’s daughter, was also part of the compromise and given over to Rollo as his bride. Another example of a marital “pledge”, we guess! In any case, it is on her account that the name Gisѐle became so popular in medieval France. The Normans would have brought the name to England during the 1066 Conquest; however, it appears that the popularity of the 1841 ballet “Giselle” had more influence in the English-speaking world in terms of the name’s modern usage. Gisselle is a newly coined spelling used almost exclusively by Americans.