Holding steady.
Popularity of Criselda since 1919
Babies named Criselda per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 6 |
| 1920s | 11 |
| 1930s | 35 |
| 1940s | 69 |
| 1950s | 198 |
| 1960s | 340 |
| 1970s | 487 |
| 1980s | 303 |
| 1990s | 142 |
| 2000s | 55 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Criselda reached its highest recorded popularity in 1974, reflecting a broader trend of Spanish-derived names gaining visibility in the United States during that decade. After that peak, usage settled into a stable but low-frequency pattern. Despite being a variant, Criselda has maintained a distinct identity separate from the better-known Griselda. The name has remained in consistent but limited use since 1919, showing a steady trajectory with no recent revival. It is most strongly associated with Hispanic communities in the United States.
Criselda is a variant of Griselda, a name of Germanic origin composed of elements meaning 'gray' (gris) and 'battle' (hild). Griselda entered Spanish and Italian through medieval literature, notably Boccaccio's Decameron and Chaucer's Clerk's Tale, which popularized the patient and long-suffering Griselda character. The variant Criselda likely arose from phonetic shifts in Spanish and Italian, where 'g' is sometimes replaced with 'c'.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cris, Crisse, Elsa, Cela
Sibling names for Criselda
Names that share Criselda's style, for a brother or sister.
