Gender Feminine
Pronounced Pron. BROON-hilt(German)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Derived from the Old German elements brunna "armour, protection" and hilt "battle". It is cognate with the Old Norse name Brynhildr (from the elements brynja and hildr). In Norse legend Brynhildr was the queen of the valkyries who was rescued by the hero Sigurd. In the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied she was a queen of Iceland and the wife of Gunther. Both of these characters were probably inspired by the eventful life of the 6th-century Frankish queen Brunhilda (of Visigothic birth).

In German, this name is spelled Brünhild in the Nibelungenlied, but normally Brunhild or Brunhilde when used as a given name.

Related Names

VariantsBrunhilde(German) Brünhild(Germanic Mythology) Brunihild(Germanic)
Other Languages & CulturesBrunilda(Albanian) Brunhilda(History) Brynhildur(Icelandic) Brunilda(Italian) Brynhild, Brynhildr(Norse Mythology) Brynhild(Norwegian) Brunjōhildiz(Old Germanic) Brynhildr(Old Norse) Brunilda, Nilda(Portuguese) Brunilda, Nilda(Spanish)
Same SpellingBrünhild

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   natural   wholesome   strong   rough   strange   complex   serious  

Categories

Sources & References

  1. Förstemann, Ernst. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. Bonn, 1900, page 341.
Entry updated December 7, 2022