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Gisela as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Gisela

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The baby name Gisela is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced {'German': {'ipa': '/ˈɡiːzəla/', 'respelling': 'GEE-zeh-lah'}, 'English': {'ipa': '/dʒɪˈzɛlə/', 'respelling': 'ji-ZEL-uh'}, 'Spanish': {'ipa': '/xiˈsela/', 'respelling': 'hee-SEH-lah'}}.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Pronunciation: {'German': {'ipa': '/ˈɡiːzəla/', 'respelling': 'GEE-zeh-lah'}, 'English': {'ipa': '/dʒɪˈzɛlə/', 'respelling': 'ji-ZEL-uh'}, 'Spanish': {'ipa': '/xiˈsela/', 'respelling': 'hee-SEH-lah'}}

What is the meaning of the name Gisela ?

The baby name Gisela is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced {'German': {'ipa': '/ˈɡiːzəla/', 'respelling': 'GEE-zeh-lah'}, 'English': {'ipa': '/dʒɪˈzɛlə/', 'respelling': 'ji-ZEL-uh'}, 'Spanish': {'ipa': '/xiˈsela/', 'respelling': 'hee-SEH-lah'}}.

Gisela is in Origin.

Gisela derives from the Old High German element gīsal, “pledge” or “hostage,” from Proto-Germanic *gīslaz; in medieval contexts it signified a noble pledge given to secure peace, hence the softened modern sense of “pledge” or “guaranty.” The name appears in early Germanic compounds and stands on its own across Central and Western Europe.

Medieval usage is strong: it was borne by Carolingian and Ottonian princesses and abbesses, and by Gisela of Hungary (queen consort of Saint Stephen I). The form remained common in German lands and later traveled into Iberia and Catalonia. Established variants include Gisèle (French), Giselle (English/French), Gisella (Italian), Gizella (Hungarian), and the short forms Gisa and Gisi; Spanish and Catalan typically keep Gisela. Related cognates from the same root include Ghislaine. The name enjoyed renewed notice in the 19th–20th centuries alongside the popularity of Giselle.

Gisela has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Gisela

Gisela May Actor · Born 1924 · Germany Gisela May was a German actress best known for her work in theater and cabaret. She gained fame for her performances in Bertolt Brecht's plays, including 'Mother Courage and Her Children'. Her career also included notable roles in television and film, making her a prominent figure in German arts. Gisela Hahn Actor · Born 1943 · Germany Gisela Hahn is a German actress best known for her roles in European films during the 1970s and 1980s. She appeared in movies like 'The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine' and 'The Beast in Heat', which were popular in the exploitation genre. Her career spans several decades, making her a notable figure in German cinema.

Celebrity babies named Gisela

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Gisela von Arnim Bettina von Arnim singer ★★★★★

Gisela – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #31 3 2,537
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
PR 0 #48 8 1,497
AO 0 #73 5 2,729
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
AR Girls 0 #86 2,387 8,289
PA Girls 0 #86 843 9,861
PA 0 #99 32 3,797
ID Girls 0 #100 3 3,319
AR 0 #105 83 2,915
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
Germany Girls 0 #111 3,717 4,949
EC 0 #113 9 2,502
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
MU 0 #119 18 3,613
AO Girls 0 #123 93 4,575
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
PR Girls 0 #129 33 3,171
EE Girls 0 #140 3 1,888
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
PT Girls 0 #153 656 7,952
CR 0 #160 6 5,526
LU Girls 0 #169 17 4,850
PT 0 #172 79 4,161
Sweden Girls 2013 #175 2 1,514
SI Girls 0 #176 2 2,769
NA Girls 0 #177 48 7,146
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
PE Girls 0 #182 2,706 14,861
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
AE 0 #184 4 10,220
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
Austria Girls 0 #194 322 1,885
Austria 0 #197 17 850
EC Girls 0 #197 43 3,650
AL Girls 0 #201 22 4,141
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
MU Girls 0 #210 145 8,539
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
HU Girls 0 #219 7 3,308
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
PE 0 #236 75 6,350
GR Girls 0 #242 8 6,293
JP Girls 0 #243 9 6,592
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
MO Girls 0 #259 5 7,056
Spain Girls 0 #261 1,834 5,561
CL Girls 0 #267 1,279 14,098
CO Girls 0 #275 2,608 16,140
SG 0 #275 8 11,010
IL 0 #278 5 6,291
BO Girls 0 #281 448 9,488
MX 0 #281 136 8,339
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
HR Girls 0 #291 4 3,687
CL 0 #295 120 6,867
Germany 0 #295 148 2,542
DK Girls 0 #296 21 7,429
MX Girls 0 #309 2,726 17,781
Spain 0 #317 140 2,326
BR 0 #328 18 5,969
CZ Girls 0 #328 14 5,378
GT 0 #331 8 5,948
GH Girls 0 #334 4 6,973
BO 0 #346 36 6,868
CN Girls 0 #353 7 8,829
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
UY Girls 0 #357 162 6,731
PL Girls 0 #362 3 5,096
France Girls 1987 #370 3 1,800
Finland Girls 0 #371 21 1,368
CO 0 #375 107 7,768
PT Boys 0 #379 3 7,951
NL 0 #381 11 2,481
CR Girls 0 #387 149 11,342
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
OM Girls 0 #421 4 15,987
PH Girls 0 #421 9 13,098
GT Girls 0 #428 78 7,500
ZA 0 #431 17 14,421
AR Boys 0 #434 34 7,628
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
PA Boys 0 #501 5 9,305
CR Boys 0 #509 2 10,188
IR Girls 0 #515 16 8,334
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
CM Girls 0 #525 16 11,671
PS Girls 0 #541 7 10,981
KW Girls 0 #561 1 19,177
AE Girls 0 #591 7 20,968
IL Girls 0 #600 18 11,648
BO Boys 0 #615 8 9,244
SG Girls 0 #627 6 18,916
HK Girls 0 #644 7 16,104
Finland Girls 2026 #647 92 3,895
BR Girls 0 #674 277 12,708
IT 0 #690 25 4,183
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
NL Girls 0 #691 271 5,933
CL Boys 0 #693 8 13,390
SY 0 #765 3 11,684
BR Boys 0 #784 2 12,213
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
PE Boys 0 #849 30 14,506
TN 0 #862 4 13,765
United States Girls 2024 #884 33 8,487
CO Boys 0 #907 14 15,656
Spain Boys 0 #918 13 5,610
Germany Boys 0 #930 23 5,697
MX Boys 0 #967 16 16,355
ZA Girls 0 #991 151 25,928
NG Boys 0 #1,001 1 16,906
EG Girls 0 #1,004 6 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,011 4 25,931
IT Girls 0 #1,025 441 9,415
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
TR 0 #1,197 15 19,440
MA 0 #1,198 2 20,986
DZ 0 #1,234 1 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,272 1 25,619

Gisela is popular in 68 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
France
Sweden
AE
AL

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Gisela

Gisela is predominantly a girl's name.
Gisela is a 3 syllable name, pronounced {'German': {'ipa': '/ˈɡiːzəla/', 'respelling': 'GEE-zeh-lah'}, 'English': {'ipa': '/dʒɪˈzɛlə/', 'respelling': 'ji-ZEL-uh'}, 'Spanish': {'ipa': '/xiˈsela/', 'respelling': 'hee-SEH-lah'}}.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Giselle, Gisella, Gisele, Gisèle and Gizella.
Across languages, Gisela has these equivalents: Giselle (French), Gisella (Italian), Gizella (Hungarian), Gisele / Giséle (varied spellings).
Yes — Gisela ranked #175 in Sweden in 2013, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Gisela ranks highest in Sweden (#175 in 2013).
Gisela's popularity is rising. It moved from #892 in 2014 to #884 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 2 notable people named Gisela are in our database, including Gisela May (Actor), Gisela Hahn (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Gisela for their child, including Bettina von Arnim.