Masculine Ghislain, Guislain, Gislain or Ghiselin and feminine Ghislaine or Ghyslaine is a French personal name used in countries with French-speaking populations. It is originated with a 7th century saint, Saint Ghislain (died 680) of Hainaut and was latinized as Gislenus.
Etymologically, the name is usually said to derive from the oblique case of a Proto-West Germanic root: *gīsl “hostage, pledge” (see Wiktionary:Ghislain). As such, it is cognate with modern German Geisel "hostage". (However, one source has instead claimed that the name is derived from Germanic roots gis "information" and lind "sweet". [1]) The name possibly became popular as a secondary given name, which was intended to give infants the protection of St Ghislain. [2]
Other people with this given name include:
Masculine Ghislain, Guislain, Gislain or Ghiselin and feminine Ghislaine or Ghyslaine is a French personal name used in countries with French-speaking populations. It is originated with a 7th century saint, Saint Ghislain (died 680) of Hainaut and was latinized as Gislenus.
Etymologically, the name is usually said to derive from the oblique case of a Proto-West Germanic root: *gīsl “hostage, pledge” (see Wiktionary:Ghislain). As such, it is cognate with modern German Geisel "hostage". (However, one source has instead claimed that the name is derived from Germanic roots gis "information" and lind "sweet". [1]) The name possibly became popular as a secondary given name, which was intended to give infants the protection of St Ghislain. [2]
Other people with this given name include: