Gunther is a Germanic masculine given name, composed of the elements 'gund' meaning 'battle' and 'herr' meaning 'army'. It was popularized by Charlemagne's count, Gunther of Strasbourg, who fought against the Saxons in the 8th century. The name has been used throughout Europe over centuries, with notable bearers including the Holy Roman Emperor Gunther II and composer Gunther Schuller.
The name Gunther experienced notable fluctuations in popularity over the decades. It peaked in the late 1990s to early 2000s with around 30 births per year, but has since declined, averaging about 15-20 births annually up until last year (2023) with only 10 recorded births. The highest number of Gunther births in a single year was 32, recorded in 1995.