Erwin

Erwin is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It is widely used in German-speaking regions and in many other countries. The name is generally thought to derive from Germanic elements that express strength or friendship; the second element win is common in names that mean "friend" or "protector," while the first element has several possible roots in early Germanic languages, yielding different interpretations such as "honor," "noble," or "boar" in various forms.

Used since the Middle Ages, Erwin remains in modern use in Europe and beyond. Variants and related forms appear in different languages, including Ervin and Irwin, among others.

Notable people named Erwin include Erwin Schrödinger (1887–1961), an Austrian physicist and Nobel laureate for the Schrödinger equation and the thought experiment known as Schrödinger's cat; Erwin Rommel (1891–1944), a German field marshal in World War II; Erwin Neher (born 1944), a German biophysicist and Nobel laureate for work on ion channels; Erwin Komenda (1904–1992), an Austrian automotive designer who helped shape the Porsche 356; Erwin Piscator (1893–1966), a German theatre director and producer; and Erwin Bach (born 1956), a German-Swiss musician and Tina Turner’s partner.

Places named Erwin include Erwin, Tennessee, a town in the United States.

In fiction, Erwin appears as a given name for characters such as Erwin Smith in the manga and anime Attack on Titan.