Reinhilde

Reinhilde is a variant of Reinhild and means 'counsel and battle' or more freely 'the one who fights with divine counsel'. This name is derived from the Old High German terms ragin/regin for 'counsel, decree, decision (of the gods)' and hiltja for 'battle'. The name spread in the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Reinhild of Riesenbeck and other saints.

What does the name Reinhilde mean?

Reinhilde is a variant of Reinhild and means 'counsel and battle' or interpretatively 'the one who fights with divine counsel'. The name derives from the Old High German words ragin/regin, meaning 'counsel, decree, decision (of the gods)', and hiltja, which stands for 'battle'. Its popularity in the Middle Ages is attributed to the veneration of Saint Reinhild of Riesenbeck and other saints. Diminutive forms of Reinhild include Raginhilt, Reinelde, Reineldis, Reinhilt, Reinilde, Rendel, and Renilde, as well as the Old Norse variants Ragnhild, Ragnhilde, Ragna, and Ragne.

Where does the name Reinhilde come from?

Reinhilde is a female first name of Old High German origin, carrying the meaning 'counsel and battle' or 'the one who fights with divine counsel'. The components ragin/regin come from Old High German and mean 'counsel, decree, decision (of the gods)', while hiltja stands for 'battle'. The language from which this name originates is Old German.

How do you pronounce Reinhilde?

The pronunciation of Reinhilde is three syllables and has a slightly softer sound than Reinhild. It is pronounced as 'Rein-hil-de' [ˈʁaɪ̯nhɪldə], with the structure remaining clear and the addition of '-de' providing a gentle echo. The emphasis on '-hil-' gives the name a bright tone. Reinhilde radiates tradition and serenity - a name that offers a harmonious balance between clarity, historical depth, and gentle rounding.

When is the name day of Reinhilde?

The name day of Reinhilde is celebrated on February 6 (Reinhild of Aldeneik), May 30 (Reinhild of Riesenbeck), and July 16 (Reineldis of Saintes).

Popularity

In Germany, Reinhilde is a rather rare first name. In 2014, it ranked 4,003rd on the list of the most common female baby names. Between 2010 and 2024, Reinhilde was given in Germany fewer than 10 times, placing it at 10,750th. In the last ten years, no child has received this name. Information on the global popularity and rankings of Reinhilde can be found in the baby name charts of various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Hilda / Hilde / Hilla / Hilli / Reine / Reini

Similar first names

Famous people

• Reinhilde DelBo (Belgian singer)