Eckhart

Eckhart is a German given name and surname. It is derived from the Old High German name Eckehard (also rendered Eckard, Eckart), from elements meaning edge or sword and brave or hard. Over time, Eckhart has appeared in various spellings such as Eckardt and Eckert. In modern usage it remains common in German-speaking countries and among descendants of German communities, though it also appears as a surname in other regions.

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–c. 1328) is the best-known bearer of the name. He was a German Dominican theologian and mystic, regarded as a major figure in late medieval Christian mysticism. Eckhart’s sermons and treatises emphasize the inner life, detachment, and the birth of the Word within the soul. His ideas influenced later mystics and have been discussed in modern spiritual and philosophical contexts. Some of his propositions were controversial and were subject to condemnation by church authorities in the ensuing centuries, but his legacy persisted in intellectual and religious discourse.

In contemporary times, the given name Eckhart is still used. Notable bearers include Eckhart Tolle (born 1948), a German-Canadian spiritual teacher and author known for The Power of Now, whose first name reflects the traditional German form. The name Eckhart thus spans historical and modern contexts, associated with religious scholarship as well as broader cultural usage.