Comments for the name Hildegard

I'm English and 'Hildegard' is apparently where my surname (Norman in origin) derives from. Other names sites claim that Hildegard was the name of a Valkyrie.

Don't even try naming your kid this unless you know for absolute certain that she will grow up to be blonde and buxom.

I didn't like this name when I first heard it. It's unusual, but I think it manages to be both calm & strong. I don't get that impression at all, about 'blonde & buxom'. I see brown & grey.

The German pronunciation is HIL-de-gahrt. [noted -ed]

Call me crazy, but I think Hildegard nicknamed Hilde is adorable.

This is a surprisingly common name in Ireland, the 2011-12 Mayor of Galway is called Hildegarde Naughton.

Hildegard was the daughter of Louis the Pious and his first wife Ermengarde.

Hildegard of Bavaria (1825-1914), daughter of Ludwig I of Bavaria and his wife Therese. She was married to Albert of Austria. He was a grandson of Emperor Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Hildegard (1881-1948) was the daughter of King Ludwig III of Bavaria and his wife Maria Theresia.

Hildegard (856-?) was the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles II ("the Bald") and his first wife Ermentrude.

I have to dispute the common identification of -gard in female Germanic names with the root of English "yard" (enclosure, cognate with Latin hortis garden). For one thing deuterothemes indicate gender, and "yard" in all the Germanic languages is masculine and only masculine (you don't really need a feminine for "yard"). Further, the Gothic form -gardis and Norse Gerðr imply a word in the i-declension (with i-umlaut of arðiz to erðr), supporting both multiple genders, whereas "yard" is purely masculine a-declension. OE gierd (spar, stick, rod, assimilated to yard "enclosure" as a land measure) is feminine and shows i-umlaut from continental gard-, but the Gothic form is gazds (sting), and we have numerous feminine names ending in -gardis of Gothic origin. A purported "early meaning" of "protection" seems an ignorant association with Romance guarda, but this is merely the Latin dialect pronunciation of Germanic "ward" (again, masculine). Unfortunately it appears Norse -gerðr, Gothic -gardis and German -garde are derived from an older GarðiR, attested only as a feminine name. Some, more distant connection with masculine gardaz is possible, but like many of the most ancient Germanic names (such as Amal, Nerðr, Ingwe etc.), the original meaning, if there even is one, has been lost.

The usage of Hildegard in Ireland was likely inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen.

I think it's a beautiful, strong name. It'd be a good character name...