Alda

Alda is a feminine name with roots in the ancient Germanic element ald, meaning old or experienced, carrying connotations of wisdom and maturity. It entered Italian and Portuguese usage as a medieval given name and appears in early literary tradition, notably borne by a character in the Old French chanson de geste cycle surrounding Roland. In Icelandic the name arose independently as a native word meaning wave, giving it a distinct poetic resonance in Norse culture. Related forms include Alda's masculine counterpart Aldo, as well as the broader Germanic family that includes Aldous and Aldric.