Giselda is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements 'gisil', meaning 'pledge' or 'hostage', and 'hild', which means 'battle'. This name was popular among the Swabian nobility in Germany during the Middle Ages. It has been associated with various notable figures throughout history, such as Giselda of Swabia (also known as Cunegonde), who was a queen consort of Hungary in the 10th century. The name Giselda is often used interchangeably with its variant forms, including Gisela and Jill.
"The name Giselda has seen peaks of popularity in the late 20th century, with notable years being 1969 and 1975, each having five births. It also experienced a slight increase in 1993 with six births. In total, there were twenty-six births bearing this name over these periods."