Balthazar

Balthazar is considered an English and French form of the Hebrew name Belshatzzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר), which has its origins in the Akkadian and Babylonian terms Bēl-šarra-uṣur.

What does the name Balthazar mean?

The name Balthazar, regarded as the English and French variant of the Hebrew Belshatzzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר), derives from the Akkadian and Babylonian words. It means 'God save the king', 'God protect the king', or originally 'Baal protect the king'. The meaning consists of three elements: Bēl for 'the deity', šarra for 'the king', and uṣur for 'save' or 'protect'. Balthazar is a traditional name that 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 Christ. Other variants include Belsazar, Balthasar, Baltasar, Baltazar, Baldassare, Boldizsar, Balthes, Balcer, Balles, Balczus, Baltes, Balz, Balzer, Baltzer, and Balzar.

Where does the name Balthazar come from?

The name Balthazar has Akkadian and Babylonian origins and means 'God save the king'. The word components in Akkadian consist of Bēl for 'the deity', šarra for 'the king', and uṣur for 'save' or 'protect'. The languages in which the name appears include English, French, Dutch, and Swedish.

How do you pronounce Balthazar?

The pronunciation of Balthazar is three syllables and distinct. It is generally pronounced as 'Bal-tha-zar' [baltaˈzaːʁ]. The consonant sequence in the middle part provides a marked structure, while the long 'a' in the final syllable and the trailing 'r' give the name a certain breadth and resonance. Overall, Balthazar sounds impressive and dignified, with a strong auditory presence and a ceremonial aura.

When is the name day of Balthazar?

Balthazar is celebrated on January 6.

Popularity

In Germany, Balthazar is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th on the list of most common male first names. The name reached its best ranking in 2018, when it came in at 1,353rd place. In the last ten years, Balthazar has been used as a first name about 110 times, placing it 2,305th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,436th.

Nicknames & pet names

Balthie

Famous people

• Balthazar Armas (artist from Venezuela)
• Balthazar de Beukelaer (Belgian fencer)
• Balthazar Georges Sage (chemist from France)
• Balthazar Getty (actor from the USA)
• Balthazar Korab (American photographer)
• Balthazar Lange (Norwegian architect)
• Balthazar Richard (composer)
• Bathasar (one of the Three Wise Men)
• Jean Balthazar Marie Mallard de la Varen (French writer)
• Paul Balthazar Getty (American actor & musician)