Thusnelda, Tusnelda

Gender: Feminine
Origin: German
Meaning: “giant battle.”
(tooz-NEL-dah)

The name is derived from the Germanic Tussinhilda, which is composed of the words thurs meaning “giant” and hild meaning “battle.” The name was latinized by Tacitus as Thusnelda.

Thusnelda (c. 10 B.C.E-17 CE), was a Cheruscan princess, daughter of Segestes. She eloped with Arminius, the leader of the Germanic tribes who eventually defeated the Romans at the Teutenberg forest.

In 9 B.C.E, Thusnelda became the prisoner of Germanicus and was paraded infront of the Romans as a victory prize. In later years, Thusnelda became a symbol for German nationlism.

The name is virtually unheard of in Germany these days, but has remained very popular in Latvia in the form of Tusnelda.

The designated name-day in Latvia is July 9.