Meaning & History
Gudila is an Old Germanic feminine name, primarily known as the ancient form of Gudula. Its etymology is traceable to the elements guot meaning "good" or guth/gunda meaning "battle." This dual possibility reflects a common pattern in Germanic onomastics, where names often combined virtues with martial connotations.
Historical Bearers
Although Gudila itself is rarely attested as a given name in later records, its root appears in early historical sources. Most notably, the 4th-century BC Getic ruler Cothelas—whose name is an Ancient Greek rendering of Gudila—was a king of the Getae near the Black Sea. Around 341 BC, Cothelas became a vassal of Philip II of Macedon, and his daughter Meda married the Macedonian king. The modern Bulgarian village of Sveshtari is thought to house Cothelas' tomb in a Getic burial complex.
Additionally, a person named Gudila appears in the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: AD 395–527, though no further biographical details are available. This likely attests to the name's survival in a Latinized context during late antiquity, possibly among Gothic or Germanic communities in the Roman Empire.
Alternate Forms and Christian Legacy
On the feminine side, the Saint St. Gudula of Brabant (7th century) is a more famous bearer of the name's later variant. She is venerated as one of the patron saints of Brussels, and her name likely shares the same root as Gudila. In some instances, Gudila is interpreted as a short form of Godiva or Gudrun, though this connection is speculative.
Key Points
Sources: Wikipedia — Cothelas