UK girl's name
Gisela
Gisela is a German feminine name meaning "pledge" or "hostage".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gisela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gisela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 4 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2000 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Gisela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gisela ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 4 girls were registered as Gisela.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gisela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
4 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Gisela mean?
The name Gisela has its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically from the Old Germanic masculine name Gisilhari or Gisilher, which was composed of the elements "gisil" meaning hostage or pledge, and "hari" meaning army or warrior. It is believed that the name emerged during the Migration Period in Europe, around the 5th to 8th centuries AD, when various Germanic tribes such as the Goths, Vandals, and Franks were on the move across the continent.
The name Gisela first gained prominence among the Frankish nobility during the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Gisela, the daughter of King Lothar II of Lotharingia, who lived from 820 to 858 AD. She was a pivotal figure in the political intrigues of her time and played a significant role in shaping the alliances between the Carolingian rulers.
Another notable Gisela was the Queen of Hungary, who lived from around 985 to 1065 AD. She was the wife of King Stephen I of Hungary and played a crucial role in the Christianization of the Hungarian kingdom. Her efforts in promoting the spread of Christianity earned her the title of "Apostolic Queen" and sainthood in the Catholic Church.
The name Gisela also appeared in the annals of the Holy Roman Empire. Gisela of Burgundy, born in 952 AD, was the wife of Emperor Conrad II and the mother of Emperor Henry III. She was known for her piety and charitable works, and her influence helped shape the cultural and religious landscape of the empire during her lifetime.
In the 12th century, a Gisela of Merania lived from 1185 to 1238 and was the Queen of Hungary as the wife of King Andrew II. She played a pivotal role in the political affairs of the kingdom and was known for her patronage of the arts and culture.
Another notable figure was Gisela of Bavaria, born in 1210, who was the Queen of Hungary as the wife of King Stephen V. She was renowned for her diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in mediating disputes between various European rulers during her lifetime.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Gisela. The name has endured across centuries and continues to be used in various parts of Europe, particularly in German-speaking regions, as a testament to its rich historical heritage and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gisela over time
The chart below shows babies named Gisela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gisela, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gisela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gisela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5629 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4185 | 20 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Gisela
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Gisela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gisela in the UK right now?
In 2019, Gisela was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gisela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 4 babies registered as Gisela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gisela?
Gisela is a German feminine name meaning "pledge" or "hostage".
How many people are called Gisela in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Gisela across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.