Kriemhild

Definition & meaning

Kriemhild is a traditional German female given name. Its most significant usage is in Germanic mythology and literature, specifically as the central female protagonist of the Nibelungenlied↗, a Middle High German epic poem.

In the epic, she is a princess of the Burgundians and the sister of King Gunther↗. She marries the hero Siegfried↗. Following the treacherous murder of her husband by Hagen↗ von Tronje, her character transforms from a gentle noblewoman into a figure of vengeance. She eventually marries Etzel↗ (the historical Attila the Hun) to gain the power necessary to destroy her husband's killers, leading to a catastrophic ending for the Burgundian court.

Grammar & Word origin

The name is a proper noun and is grammatically feminine. It originates from Old High German and is a dithematic name, meaning it is composed of two distinct parts:

1. "Grim" or "Krim": Derived from the Old High German word "grimma," which can mean "mask," "helmet," or "fierce/terrible."
2. "Hild": Derived from the Old High German word "hiltja," which means "battle" or "fight."

Combined, the name can be interpreted as "the masked warrior" or "the one who fights with a mask."

Synonyms & antonyms

As a proper name, it does not have synonyms in the traditional sense. however, in the context of Germanic mythology and different linguistic traditions, there are equivalent figures and variations:

• Gudrun↗: This is the equivalent character in Norse mythology (such as the Völsunga saga and the Poetic Edda).
• Grimhild↗: An older or variant form of the name often found in different Germanic dialects or older versions of the legends.

There are no antonyms for this word as it is a personal name.