Griselda \g-risel-da, gr(i)-se-lda\ as a girl's name is pronounced gri-ZELL-dah. It is of Old German origin, and the meaning of Griselda is "dark battle". Also possibly "gray fighting maid" or the name may derive from the German word "gries", meaning "gravel" or "stone". Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio's use of the name in a tale about an exceptionally patient wife has made the expression "patience of Griselda" proverbial. The short form Zelda is much more popular.

Griselda has 17 variant forms: Chriselda, Gricelda, Gricely, Grisel, Griseldis, Grisella, Griselle, Griselly, Grishelda, Grishilde, Grissel, Grizel, Grizelda, Gryselde, Gryzelde, Selda and Zelda.

Baby names that sound like Griselda are Criselda and Gracella.