Given name

Gunhild

Gunhild is a feminine given name from Old Swedish, ultimately from Old Norse. It is used in Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian Nynorsk.

Meaning & origin

Where it comes from

Gunhild is a variant of Gunnhild. An origin associated with Gunnhild is Old Norse.

Explained through its name family

How it developed

In Danish usage, Gunhild developed from Gunnhildr.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Gunhild through the years

Babies since 1880
169
0 boys · 169 girls
Most popular year
1916
18 babies
2025
0
Outside the ranked list
2021–25 vs 2016–20
—
Too few births to compare
01020301900192019401960198020002025Highest share 18920.0
Gunhild in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1890–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1926. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 18 in 1916.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Gunhild’s family of names

In Danish usage, Gunhild developed from the Old Norse form Gunnhildr. In Swedish usage, Gunhild has a related form in Gunnel. Gunhild has a related form in Gunnhild.

Walk Gunhild’s family in the name graph

GunhildGunnelGunnhildGunhildeGunnhildurGunildGunildaGutnelGunnhildr

Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Around the world

Gunhild has relatives in 4 languages.

4 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Nicknames & forms 2

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Across languages 6

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

See also 1

Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.

Similar names

If you love Gunhild, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

German · Old-fashioned

Gertrude

“one who is strong with a spear”

21RareSteady

>99% girls

English · Old-fashioned

Golda

“resembling the precious metal”

35RareRising

>99% girls

Old-fashioned

Fanny

“French” · “garland”

21RareRising

>99% girls

Welsh · Literary

Enid

“one who gives life”

26RareRising

>99% girls

Old-fashioned

Bessie

“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”

20RareRising

>99% girls

Literary

Santa

“helper and defender of mankind” · “a holy man”

18Very rareRising

>99% girls

Italian · Old-fashioned

Elda

“a battlemaiden; a protector”

22RareSteady

>99% girls

Old-fashioned

Ocie

22RareRising fast

19% boys · 81% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Gunhild’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Gunhild

A sister for Gunhild