Balthasar

Balthasar is a male first name, whose Greek form traces back to the Akkadian or Babylonian name Bēl-šarra-uṣur. However, in the Hebrew variant Belshazzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר), it is more widely known.

What does the name Balthasar mean?

The name Balthasar is derived from the Akkadian and Babylonian Bēl-šarra-uṣur and translates to 'God save the king,' 'God protect the king,' or 'Baal protect the king' as well as 'Baal protect his life.' The origin can be traced back to the elements Bēl, meaning 'the deity,' šarra, meaning 'the king,' and uṣur, meaning 'to save' or 'to protect.' Balthasar has a long tradition as a first name and became known in the early Middle Ages as one of the Three Wise Men in the Bible who traveled from the East to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In the Old Testament, Balthasar or Belshazzar is mentioned as the last king of Babylon, who sees a mystical writing on the wall interpreted by Daniel as a sign of the downfall of his kingdom. In Germany, the name has been in use since the 14th century. Various variants of the name include Belsazar, Balthazar, Baltasar, Baldassare, Boldizsar, Balthes, Balcer, Balles, Balczus, Baltes, Balz, Balzer, Baltzer, and Balzar. A well-known bearer of the name is the German master builder Balthasar Neumann.

Where does the name Balthasar come from?

The first name Balthasar comes from Akkadian and Babylonian and means 'God save the king.' The word components consist of Bēl, meaning 'the deity' (Akkadian), šarra, meaning 'the king' (Akkadian), and uṣur, meaning 'to save' or 'to protect' (Akkadian). The name can be found in various languages, including Biblical, German, English, and Greek.

How do you pronounce Balthasar?

The pronunciation of the name Balthasar is three syllables and strongly structured. In the German language, it is usually pronounced as 'Bal-tha-sar' [balˈtaːzaʁ]. The name begins with an open A sound, giving it a distinctive presence. The consonant cluster 'lth' provides a characteristic, slightly archaic sound. The ending '-sar' sounds soft yet determined. These features give Balthasar an impressive and traditional effect - sonorous, dignified, and unmistakable.

When is the name day of Balthasar?

The name day for Balthasar is celebrated on January 6.

Popularity

In Germany, Balthasar is a relatively sought-after first name. Currently, it ranks 1,420th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was achieved in 1931 at position 126. In the last ten years, Balthasar has been given as a first name around 310 times, placing it 1,192nd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 950th.

Nicknames & pet names

Baldi / Bale / Balth / Baltha / Balthi / Balthus / Balti / Balto / Baltus / Balz / Balzi / Balzone / Lazar / Sari / Zar

Famous people

• Anton Balthasar König (historian from Germany)
• Balthasar Ableithner (Bavarian sculptor)
• Balthasar Burkhard (Swiss photographer)
• Balthasar Cellarius (German theologian)
• Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx (composer from Italy)
• Balthasar Denner (artist from Germany)
• Balthasar der Jüngere Mentzer (theologian from Germany)
• Balthasar der König (one of the Three Wise Men)
• Balthasar Ferdinand Moll (Austrian sculptor)
• Balthasar Friedrich von Schütz (German writer)
• Balthasar Harres (master builder and architect)
• Balthasar Hermann (German painter)
• Balthasar Hunold (poet from Switzerland)
• Balthasar Köpke (theologian from Germany)
• Balthasar Küchler (German painter)
• Balthasar Mentzer (German theologian)
• Balthasar Menz (German theologian)
• Balthasar Neumann (1687-1753 famous court architect)
• Balthasar Paul Ommeganck (painter from Belgium)
• Balthasar Permoser (sculptor in the Baroque period)