Dear Genners,
The female name Gisha was nickname to the Hebrew name Tova. The way
is very easy. Tova nickname is normally Gitel or Gutel or Gitta in
Yiddish. Special in Russia the Jews used to called Gitel as Gisel and
Gita as Gisha . My source is the "Beit Shmuel" in his commentary to
the "Shulchan Aruch" and >from "Ohalei Shem" by Solomon Ganzfried,
Ungevar 1878. It is very common in words or names that the T is changed
to a S. the best sample is the Hebrew word Shabat that change in Yiddish
to Shabes.
Best regards
Ury Link
Amsterdam
Holland