Origin, Meaning, and History of Balthazar
Balthazar is a masculine given name of Arabic origin and means ‘protect the king.’ Derived from the Akkadian Bel-shar-uzur, meaning ‘Bel guards the king,’ the name is commonly given to Balthazar (magus), one of the Three Wise Men, in the west.
Balthazar is the name given to one of the wise men also called the Magi, or three kings, who came to see the baby Jesus. He was said to be from Arabia. Since no names are provided in the Gospel of Matthew, this was one of the names that the Western church decided on in the 8th century. The name was given as per the original meaning.
There were other names also that were chosen by Eastern churches. This name is an alternative version of the Babylonian ruler Belshazzar, who is mentioned in the Book of Daniel.
Belshazzar was the son of Nabonidus, the final monarch of the Babylonian Empire before it was overrun by the Persians in the sixth century BC. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel, Belshazzar is the last king of Babylon who views the mystic handwriting on the wall, which Daniel believes to predict the end of the empire.
The classic name may have multiple origins with different spellings. For example, in Persian Balthazar means ‘war advisor.’ In Greek, the name means ‘protect the king.’
The phonetic spelling of this classic name is Bal-the-zahr. The name has many variations across different cultures and languages. These include Belshazzar in Babylonian, Baghdasar in Armenian, Baltasar in Biblical Greek, Belshatzzar in Biblical Greek, Baltassar in Biblical Latin, and Boldizsar in Hungarian.
The timeless name has also left a mark on popular culture. Balthasar is a demon played by Gavin Rossdale in the movieConstantine. Balthasar was a character inThe Scorpion King, whileBalthazar Brattwasthe main antagonist inDespicable Me 3. Balthazar M. Edison is another fictional character fromStar Trek: Beyond.
How To Pronounce Balthazar?
Famous People With The Name Balthazar
- Balthazar GettyAmerican actor, known for his role in Charmed
- McLeod John Baltazar Bethel-ThompsonAmerican football quarterback, who plays in the United States Football League
- Balthazar AlvarezSpanish Catholic mystic and a spiritual director at St. Teresa
- Balthazar Johannes VorsterThe Prime minister of South Africa from 1966 to 78
- Baltazar Maria de Morais JúniorBrazilian footballer, who played as a striker
Balthazar On The Popularity Chart
Balthazar didn’t enjoy much popularity in the US. Take a look at the graphs below to understand how it performed on popularity and ranking charts over the years.
Popularity Over Time
In 2017, 15 babies per million were named Balthazar, which went down to 12 in 2021. Check out the graph for detailed information.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name reached its best ranking of 24,228 in 2017. As of 2021, the name is ranked 24,251.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Balthazar
Balthazar has a unique ring to it. Here are some more names that sound similar to Balthazar.
Popular Sibling Names For Balthazar
Other Popular Names Beginning With B
Names With Similar Meaning As Balthazar
The classic name Balthazar means ‘protect the king’. Scroll down to find some more names with similar meanings.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Balthazar
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Balthazar?
The name Balthazar means ‘protect the king.’
2. What is the origin of the name Balthazar?
Balthazar has an Arabic origin.
3. Is Balthazar a common name in any specific countries or cultures?
Balthazar is a classic masculine name within the Judeo-Christian-Islamic culture. It is a variant of the Hebrew Belshazzar.
4. What are some nicknames for the name Balthazar?
5. Are there any significant meanings or symbolisms associated with the name Balthazar?
Balthazar is a popular name mentioned in the scriptures and was the title to one of the wise men known as the Magi or the three kings who visited the newborn Jesus. Due to this, the name has generally been associated with attributes like patience, wisdom, and compassion.
6. Are there any notable variations of the name Balthazar in different languages?
Some variations of Balthazar in different languages and cultures include Baghdasar (Armenian), Belshazzar (Babylonian), Baltasar (Biblical Greek), Boldizsár(Hungarian), Baldassare, Baldo (Italian), and Baltasar (Spanish).
