Golde

Golde is primarily a feminine given name in German-speaking and Jewish communities, and occasionally a surname. It is commonly treated as a variant of Golda or Goldie, derived from the Germanic element for gold, and carried symbolic associations with value and prosperity. The form Golde is encountered in Yiddish and Hebrew-influenced naming, often reflecting familial or cultural heritage.

In literature and performing arts, Golde is best known as the wife of Tevye in Sholem Aleichem's Tevye the Dairyman stories and in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. In the stage musical, Golde is the matriarch of Tevye's family; in the 1971 film adaptation, the role was played by Norma Crane. The name appears in other cultural works as a character name signifying Jewish Eastern European settings.

Usage outside fiction: Golde is occasionally used as a given name in Jewish and German-speaking communities, sometimes alongside variants such as Golda and Goldie. The variant Golda is more widely known due to public figures like Golda Meir, but Golde remains in use as a distinct spelling.

The name’s origins lie in the Germanic word for gold, transferred into given-name usage in several Western languages through transliteration. As with many traditional names, modern usage varies by region and community.