Giselle arrives at rank 1,558 with 67 records on female pets — a French name associated with both ballet and the Disney princess from Enchanted (2007). Either reference suits dogs who have opinions about their own presentation and expect to be admired for them.
The Ballet Connection
Giselle is one of the most celebrated Romantic ballets — the story of a peasant girl who dies of a broken heart and becomes a spirit that protects her unfaithful lover. The opera has been performed continuously since 1841. Naming a pet Giselle reaches toward the graceful, the elegant, the theatrical. It suits lithe, refined breeds: Greyhounds, Salukis, and elegant sighthounds where the balletic association feels embodied.
The Enchanted Princess Effect
Amy Adams's Giselle in the 2007 film Enchanted, an animated princess dropped into modern New York, gave the name a warmer, more accessible pop-culture layer. Dogs named Giselle after this reference tend to be beloved family dogs with a slightly princess-adjacent personality: charming, expects accommodation, delightful about it. That's a broader demographic than the ballet crowd and explains some of the registry presence.
Sound and Human Crossover
Zhuh-ZEL is smooth and romantic; the French pronunciation is three syllables of uninterrupted elegance. In American usage, ji-ZEL works equally well. The human name at /names/giselle has solid SSA presence, partly through Gisele Bundchen's modeling career sustaining visibility for a generation. On a pet, the full French spelling feels intentional and specific.