Holding steady.
Popularity of Brunilda since 1939
Babies named Brunilda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Brunilda's real moment was 1965.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 77 |
| 1950s | 363 |
| 1960s | 402 |
| 1970s | 178 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Brunilda, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Brunhild, is a name of ancient Germanic origin meaning 'armored battle maiden.' Despite its powerful legendary associations, the name has never been common in the United States. It was first recorded in U.S. data in 1939, and its peak usage occurred in 1965, though it never reached the top 1000. In recent decades, Brunilda has become exceedingly rare; the most recent data (2025) shows fewer than five births per year, and its trajectory is stable but minimal. The name's strength lies in its connection to the Valkyrie Brunhild of Norse and Germanic myth, though it is primarily used within Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities. Parents drawn to strong, traditional names with a legendary flair may find Brunilda an distinctive choice.
Brunilda is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Brunhild, a name of ancient Germanic origin composed of the elements 'brun' (armor, protection) and 'hild' (battle). In Germanic legend, Brunhild was a powerful Valkyrie and a central figure in the Nibelungenlied and Norse sagas. The name was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula through medieval Visigothic influence and later revived in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bruni, Nilda, Bru
Variants: Brunhild, Brunhilda, Brynhild, Brynhildr
Sibling names for Brunilda
Names that share Brunilda's style, for a brother or sister.
