gisil

Gisil is a masculine given name of Old Norse origin. In Icelandic, the modern form is Gísli; in English-language texts without diacritics it is often written Gisli. The name derives from the Old Norse gísl, meaning hostage or pledge.

The name is best known from the medieval Icelandic saga Gísla saga Súrssonar, traditionally dated to the 13th century. The saga centers on Gisli Súrsson, a figure whose life is shaped by loyalty, vengeance, and fate, and it has contributed to the cultural resonance of the name in Icelandic literature.

In contemporary Iceland, Gísli remains a common masculine given name. Outside Iceland, the name appears rarely and may be encountered among Nordic communities or people of Icelandic descent; spelling variations include Gisli when diacritics are omitted.

There is no widely recognized meaning of gisil beyond its use as a given name in Nordic contexts. If used for other subjects, it may reflect a transliteration or regional usage, but such senses are not widely documented in major reference works.