Arpad

Arpad, usually written Árpád in Hungarian, is a masculine given name of Hungarian origin. It is best known from Árpád (c. 845–907), a leader of the Magyar tribes who played a central role in the founding of the Hungarian state. According to tradition, Árpád led the Magyar tribal federation into the Carpathian Basin, and the Árpád dynasty, which descended from him, ruled the Kingdom of Hungary from around 1000 to 1301.

The etymology of the name Árpád is uncertain. Scholarly proposals have linked it to various linguistic roots, including Turkic or Uralic elements, but no consensus exists about its original meaning. The spelling Árpád is standard in Hungarian; Arpad is a common transliteration used in non-Hungarian contexts.

Today the name remains in use in Hungary and among Hungarian communities abroad. Notable bearers include Árpád Göncz, who served as President of Hungary from 1990 to 2000, among others in politics, sports, and the arts. The name also appears in literature and film as a reference to medieval Hungary and national heritage.