Brunihild – Name Meaning
Brunihild is a Germanic name derived from the Old Norse elements “brunnr” meaning “protection” and “hildr” meaning “battle.” The name is most commonly associated with the legendary queen of the Visigoths, Brunhilda of Austrasia, who was renowned for her courage and strength in battle. It has been used as a given name since at least the Middle Ages, and is still popular today.
Origin and History
The origin of the name Brunihild can be traced back to the Old Norse language. The first element of the name, “brunnr”, means “protection” or “shield” while the second element, “hildr”, means “battle” or “warrior”. Together they form a compound meaning something like “protector in battle” or “shield-maiden”.
The earliest known bearer of this name was Brunhilda of Austrasia (c. 543–613), a powerful queen of the Visigoths who fought against the Franks during the Merovingian period. She was renowned for her courage and strength in battle, and her story has been told in many works of literature over the centuries. Her legacy lives on in the form of this name.
The name Brunihild has been used as a given name since at least the Middle Ages, although it was not particularly common until recently. In recent years it has become increasingly popular in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries.
Popularity
Brunihild is not currently among the top 1000 names in any country but it is slowly gaining popularity. In Germany it ranked #1,845 in 2019 and #1,717 in 2020. In Austria it ranked #1,919 in 2019 and #1,837 in 2020. In Switzerland it ranked #2,094 in 2019 and #2,039 in 2020.
It is also becoming more popular outside of German-speaking countries. In England it ranked #5,902 in 2019 and #5,841 in 2020. In Scotland it ranked #6,074 in 2019 and #6,006 in 2020.
Famous People Named Brunihild
There are no famous people named Brunihild but there are several fictional characters with this name including:
- Brunhilda von Kiefer, a character from the anime series Kamisama Kiss
- Brunhilde von Grünwald, a character from the manga series Fairy Tail
- Brunhilde Esterhazy, a character from the video game Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm
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