Gunther is a name of German origin that has gained popularity in various parts of the world over time. It is derived from two Germanic elements, 'gund' meaning 'battle' or 'fight', and 'heri' meaning 'army'. Thus, Gunther means 'battle army'.
The name Gunther first appeared in medieval German literature as one of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table in the poem "Diu Crone". However, it was not widely used until the 19th century when it became popular among the nobility and upper classes in Germany. Since then, Gunther has been adopted by many other countries, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and even as far away as Australia.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Gunther. One of the most famous is Gunther von Schwarzburg, a German knight who fought alongside King Richard I of England during the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. More recently, Gunther von Hagens, a German anatomist and plastination pioneer, has made significant contributions to the field of anatomy through his innovative technique of preserving bodies for educational purposes.
In popular culture, Gunther has been used as a character name in various forms of media, such as the video game series "The Witcher", where one of the main characters is named Geralt of Rivia, and the television show "Game of Thrones", which features a character called Gunthor son of Gurn.
Overall, Gunther is a strong and historic name with a clear meaning rooted in Germanic mythology. Its popularity has waxed and waned over time but continues to be chosen by parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their sons.
The name Gunther has seen a varied pattern of popularity over the years in the United States, with fluctuations in the number of births year by year.
From the 1920s to the 1940s, there was an average of about 7 births per year. The highest year during this period was 1928, with 15 births, while the lowest was 1936 and 1941, each with only 6 births.
There was a gap in the usage of the name Gunther from 1942 to 1954. However, it reemerged in 1954 with 10 births, followed by another fluctuation in popularity over the next few decades.
The 1960s and 1970s saw a more consistent usage of the name Gunther, with an average of about 8 births per year. The highest year during this period was 1963, with 15 births, while the lowest was 1967 and 1974, each with only 6 births.
The late 1970s to the early 1980s showed a steady increase in popularity for the name Gunther, reaching its peak during this period in 1983 with 9 births. However, there was another decline in usage until the mid-1980s.
From the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, the number of births with the name Gunther remained relatively stable, averaging about 10 births per year. The highest year during this period was 1995 with 32 births, while the lowest was 1994 with only 18 births.
The early to mid-2000s saw a decline in popularity for the name Gunther, with an average of about 7 births per year. However, there has been a recent resurgence in its usage since 2015, with consistently higher numbers of births each year until 2023.
Overall, from 1924 to 2023, there have been a total of 1062 births with the name Gunther in the United States.