The name Giselle is of French origin and means "pledge" or "hostage". It comes from the Germanic words "gisil" meaning pledge or hostage, and "-helm" meaning helmet or protection.
The name Giselle was popularized by the ballet "Giselle", created by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot in 1841. The ballet is based on a German legend about a young girl named Giselle who dies after dancing herself to death and then returns as a ghost to protect her lover from the vengeful Wilfried.
The name Giselle has also been associated with several famous figures throughout history, including Gisele Bundchen, the Brazilian supermodel, and Gisele Freund, the French photographer. However, its popularity as a given name is not as widespread as some other names of French origin.
In terms of its usage over time, Giselle was most commonly used in France during the mid-19th century, but it has also appeared in various forms throughout European history, such as in Germany where it was spelled "Gisela".
Overall, the name Giselle is a unique and elegant choice with a rich history behind it. Its meaning of pledge or hostage adds depth to its significance, making it a meaningful option for parents looking for a distinctive name for their daughter.
Based on the provided statistics, we can see that the name Gisele has had a varied popularity over the years in the United States.
The earliest record of the name Gisele appearing among newborns is in 1923, with only 6 births that year. The next few years showed similar low numbers, with no more than 10 births per year until 1954. However, starting from 1954, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Gisele, reaching 48 births that year.
The peak of popularity for the name Gisele occurred between 2006 and 2009, with over 230 births per year during this period. This high level of popularity continued until around 2015, after which it began to decline gradually. In recent years, from 2017 onwards, the number of newborn girls named Gisele has dropped below 100 per year, with only 64 births recorded in 2022 and 60 births in 2023.
In total, over the course of a century (from 1923 to 2023), there have been 5279 newborn girls named Gisele in the United States. This demonstrates that while the name Gisele has had its periods of popularity and decline, it has maintained a consistent presence among American baby names throughout history.