Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Zelda” come from?

Zelda is a proper name of uncertain origin, possibly related to Dutch gris, though the etymological connection remains unclear.

Ancestry of “Zelda”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGriseldaA woman of exemplary gentleness and patience
2Old Englishhildbattle, war
3Proto-West Germanichildibattle, fight
4Proto-Germanichildizbattle, fight

Words derived from “Zelda”

  • Zeldaesque
Every word from Proto-Germanic hildiz →