From romantic literary heroines to
a sassy screen siren, Rosalind is an underused Rose name
ripe for rediscovery.
Origin: |
Rosalind is a form of the Old Germanic name Roslindis, derived from hros "horse" and lindi "soft, gentle". Within the ancient Germanic tribes horses were status symbols, often reserved only for the nobility or for warfare. So revered were they, it was not unheard of for them to bury their horses, or even have their horses placed in state with them. Over the years, there has been some confusion over Rosalind's etymology. Firstly, the second element has often been taken to be linde "serpent" rather than lindi "soft, gentle". Some have also connected the first element to the Germanic hrod "fame" (found in Rodney and Roland) rather than hros "horse." Though the 'd' seems less plausible, there may be something in this. Legend records a 6th century Lombard queen named Rodelinda; her name would almost certainly be derived from hrod "fame" and lindi "soft gentle." She was the mother of Alboin who, with his wife Rosamund, was the source of infamous legend. It isn't clear, however, whether there is any connection between Rodelinda and Rosalind. As the name became Rosalinda in Spain and Italy, it has also been connected with the phrase rosa linda which, quite coincidentally, means "beautiful rose" in both languages. |
Famous Bearers: |
History: * Rosalind Howard, Countess of Carlisle (1845-1921), "The Radical Countess", a promoter of women's political rights and temperance movement activist. Contemporary: * Rosalind Plowright OBE (b. 1949), an English opera singer. Literature and Media: * Rosalind, a principle character in Shakespeare's As You Like It. Other: * Rosalind, a moon of Uranus. |
Variants: | Rosalinda (Italian, Spanish), Rosalina (Portuguese, Spanish), Rosaline, Rosalyn, Roselyn |
Pronunciation: |
ROZ-ə-lind [key] |
Possible Diminutives: |
Rose, Rosa, Rosie, Roz, Rollo, Rona, Ronda, Lolly, Linny, Lindy |
Sibling Names: |
Beatrice Juliet Margot Eleanor Felicity Miranda |
Name Lists: |
Upright Elegance Shakespearean Names Names from Tennyson Astronomical Names Names of Roses Golden Age Hollywood |
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Thanks to Gray for requesting this post.