Gisel is a feminine given name of German origin. The name is derived from the Old Germanic elements "gisil" meaning "hostage" or "noble captive," and "-helm" meaning "helmet." Therefore, Gisel can be interpreted as "noble helmeted one."
The name Gisel has been used in Germany since the Middle Ages, but it was not particularly common. However, it has appeared occasionally throughout history. One notable bearer of this name is Saint Gisela of Germany (948-1002), who was the daughter of King Henry I of Germany and wife of Duke Conrad the Red of Burgundy.
In terms of popularity, Gisel is not a widely used name today. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, no girls have been named Gisel since 1973. In Germany, it has only been given to a handful of babies each year since the 1980s.
Despite its rarity, Gisel remains an intriguing and unique name with a rich historical background. Its literal meaning may not be as appealing as some other names, but its origins in medieval German royalty give it a certain cachet.
The name Gisel has seen a varied trend in its popularity over the past few decades in the United States. In the early 1970s, the name was given to around 5 babies each year between 1969 and 1971. However, there was a significant increase in its usage in 1973, with 9 babies being named Gisel.
The popularity of the name continued to fluctuate throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In some years, such as 1974 and 1979, fewer than 6 babies were given the name Gisel. Meanwhile, in other years like 1975 and 1978, there were more than 15 births with this name.
The trend continued into the 1990s, with varying popularity each year. However, from 1993 onwards, we started to see a consistent increase in the number of babies named Gisel. In just two years, between 1997 and 1998, the number of births with this name doubled from 75 to 140.
This upward trend continued until around 2007, reaching its peak in 2005 with 113 babies being named Gisel. However, since then, the popularity of the name has been on a steady decline. From 2008 onwards, fewer than 100 babies were named Gisel each year.
Despite this decrease in popularity, the name Gisel is still given to around 15-25 babies annually in recent years, according to the latest data available up until 2023. In total, over the past several decades, there have been 2242 births with the name Gisel in the United States.
While the popularity of the name Gisel may not be as high as it once was, it remains a unique and distinct choice for parents seeking to give their child a distinctive name.